Anthony Vainieri, former assemblyman, dies at 98
Former Assemblyman Anthony P. Vainieri, Jr., a former Democratic assemblyman from Hudson County and a prominent funeral home owner from North Bergen, died on January 21. He was 98.
He was the father of Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood), who served sixteen years as an assemblywoman from Bergen County, and Anthony Vainieri, Jr., a North Bergen town commissioner.
As a lawmaker, Vainieri served on the Assembly Aging and County Government committees. He was a staunch advocate for environmental protection during the massive development along the Hudson River in the 1980s. He pushed for the state Department of Environmental Protection to become involved in local cleanup of polluted properties in Hudson County. He also fought New Jersey Transit to protect bus commuters from North Bergen.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Vainieri was elected to the North Bergen Board of Commissioners in 1971 on a “Spirit of ‘71” slate headed by Peter Mocco; that race led to the defeat of Mayor Angelo Sarubbi. Vainieri finished third in the field of twenty candidates for five seats and became public safety commissioner.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/in-memoriam/anthony-vainieri-former-assemblyman-dies-at-98/