Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders – 91��Ƭ

Essex County Honors Trish Morris-Yamba and Kenneth A. Gibson with Memorial Plaques Along Legends Way

Michelle Lang — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:00:52 +0000

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and the Board of Chosen Freeholders dedicated memorial plaques along Legends Way to five individuals who made great contributions to the county during their lives. Among those recognized were two with close ties to 91��Ƭ: Trish Morris-Yamba, the late wife of NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba, and Kenneth A. Gibson, a founding NCC board member and the first black mayor of Newark.

Elected officials, family members and friends gathered Sept. 18 at Governor Brendan Byrne Plaza in Newark for the ceremony and unveiling of the plaques along Legends Way.

In addition to Morris-Yamba and Gibson, county officials unveiled memorial plaques for Pearl Beatty, first Freeholder President; Lebby C. Jones, Freeholder and Irvington Councilwoman; and Ramon Rivera, founder of La Casa de Don Pedro.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said all five individuals were interested in community empowerment in addition to community service.

“Collectively the work that they did was probably more than thousands of us put together,” Baraka said. “There would be no baton to take if they didn’t pass it to us.”

Morris-Yamba served as the executive director of the Newark Day Center and the Greater Newark Fresh Air Fund for 32 years. She made it possible for inner-city children to participate in outdoor recreational activities, including summer camp. She founded the CHEN School and the Early Childhood Coalition of Newark. She was also a founding member of the National Congress of Black Women.

NCC Board President Yamba spoke about how his late wife never wanted to run for office herself but was always very active behind the scenes to help women seeking election.

“She traveled the length and breadth of this nation to make sure that women who were running for office had the support of strong black women,” Yamba said.

He added that many miss Morris-Yamba but they take comfort in knowing she had an impact.

“We know that what she has done will far outlive her life on this earth,” he said.

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver said Morris-Yamba was a friend personally and professionally.

“Anything I ever did, any office I ever ran for, the first contribution I would get was from Trish Morris-Yamba,” Oliver said. “Whether I was running on the line or off the line, Trish was always there for me.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said Morris-Yamba was able to raise thousands of dollars to send children to summer camp but didn’t seek recognition.

“She never, ever looked for praise whatsoever,” he said.

Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne said children had a better life because of Morris-Yamba.

“Trish was just an exceptional person,” he said.

Gibson was one of the founding board members of 91��Ƭ. He is best known for becoming the first black mayor of Newark in 1970.

“This was a watershed moment for Essex County and for the entire nation,” said Essex County Freeholder President Brendan Gill of his election.

Oliver said without Gibson’s achievement, she would not hold her current position.

“I would not be lieutenant governor without the opportunities provided to me by Kenneth Allen Gibson,” she said. “Ken Gibson won election when I was 17 years old. I cried like a baby because I understood the significance of what he had done.”

DiVincenzo said Gibson became the mayor of Newark at a difficult time, after the uprising in 1967 and civil unrest.

“Ken came in and made peace within the city,” DiVincenzo said.

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said Gibson was a close friend who he met while working at the Newark Police Department.

“He was just a terrific person to work with,” Fontoura said.

Gibson’s wife Camille thanked everyone in attendance on behalf of the family.

“Ken and I were joined at the hip and he was my hero,” she said. “We appreciate this very, very much.”

Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones said each memorial plaque represents a person who cared for others no matter their political beliefs.

“These are individuals that looked out for people regardless of their party banner,” he said. “They had a rich spirit of public service. They had a rich spirit of giving.”

Essex County Dedicates Plaque to NCC Founder Along Legends Way

Michelle Lang — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 15:12:35 +0000

91��Ƭ Founder Monsignor William J. Linder will forever be remembered along Legends Way near the Essex County Government Complex. Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and the Board of Chosen Freeholders held a dedication of memorial plaques honoring Monsignor Linder and Newark author Philip Roth Oct. 12. Both men passed away this year.

During the afternoon event, county officials and people connected to 91��Ƭ spoke about Monsignor Linder, the depth of his work, the influence he had on Newark and how he was personally.

NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba talked about how he met Monsignor Linder in 1963 when he was a student at Seton Hall University and Monsignor Linder was the pastor at Queen of Angels Church. Their friendship lasted for more than five decades and after Yamba retired from being president of Essex County College, he joined the NCC Board of Directors at Monsignor Linder’s request.

Yamba said while Monsignor Linder wasn’t a native Newarker, he did more for the city than anyone after the Summer Disorders of 1967.

“All you have to do is look outside the confines of county government and you can see the footprints of Monsignor Linder,” Yamba said. “We will be eternally grateful for this man who has worked so hard. And so the obligation that he has left us with is to carry on his legacy so that which he built will not have been done in vain.”

91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman talked about how Monsignor Linder changed people’s lives through a holistic approach.

“He was a big dreamer but he also had a persistence and he had a determination to turn those dreams into reality,” Rohrman said. “He was really the most persistent and effective advocate for the people in the city of Newark.”

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura talked about Monsignor Linder’s persistence, saying he could be relentless but it was for the right reasons.

“He never stopped articulating on behalf of the people that he served. That’s what was so admirable about him,” Fontoura said. “He was so passionate about serving the folks that needed to be served the most. … His legacy will live on forever.”

Former Director of Operations for 91��Ƭ Raymond Codey shared several stories about Monsignor Linder and how he fought for the people of Newark from the very beginning of his assignment at Queen of Angels Church in the city. Three weeks after he became the church pastor, the Summer Disorders happened.

In an effort to control the situation, then Gov. Richard Hughes sent in the State Police and National Guard who set up a perimeter along the boundaries of Newark. This cut off the food supply for residents. Monsignor Linder convinced a bakery in East Orange to give him a truck and got permission from Gov. Hughes to drive that truck in and out of the city.

“He ordered milk, water, vegetables and bread and walked the projects right next to the parish. He did that for seven days. These were like 15-story buildings, no elevator service. He walked door to door, floor to floor, seven days delivering food,” Codey said. “And he built up a tremendous following in the community because of that.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said he worked for Steve Adubato at the time when Monsignor Linder founded 91��Ƭ.

“Steve started the North Ward Center to say, ‘We’re going to be part of the community,’” DiVincenzo said. “Monsignor Linder did the same thing with 91��Ƭ, dealing with the less fortunate. He was the man who spoke up.”

Though he said the two didn’t get along, he was able to bring them together to work out their differences.

“There’s only one Steve Adubato and one Monsignor Linder, but they were both doing the same thing: trying to help people in the city of Newark,” DiVincenzo said.

Sen. Teresa Ruiz called Monsignor Linder “a giant, a legacy builder who really created fundamental core principles of improving the quality of life for people either in a moment in time, for an extended moment in time or for their entire lifespan.”

Essex County Freeholder President Brendan Gill said Monsignor Linder’s contributions to society enhanced the legacy of Newark.

“During a time of tremendous upheaval and despair, he became a favorite son of Newark by taking that despair and turning it into hope,” Gill said.

Those interested in viewing the plaque can walk along Legends Way near the Essex County Government Complex.