Frank Gargiulo, former GOP assemblyman from Hudson County, dies at 87

Frank Gargiulo, a former Republican assemblyman and longtime North Bergen commissioner, died today.  He was 87.

Gargiulo was elected to the legislature in 1985, one of four Republicans boosted by Gov. Tom Kean’s coattails who flipped two Hudson County districts.  His death leaves Jose Arango, the Hudson County GOP Chairman, as the last living Republican assemblyman from Hudson County.|

In that race, Gargiulo and his 32nd district running mate, Charles Catrillo (R-Jersey City), defeated incumbents Paul Cuprowski (D-Jersey City) and Anthony Vainieri (D-North Bergen).  Vainieri passed away earlier this year.  Gargiulo was the top vote-getter with 25,179, followed by Catrillo (24,798), Cuprowski (21,018), and Vainieri (19,977).

As an assemblyman, Gargiulo fought for school intervention legislation that led to a state takeover of the Jersey City public schools and pushed for measures to protect tenants from condominium conversions.  He backed the prohibition of schools dispensing contraceptives to students.  Gargiulo refused to accept free lunches from the state while in Trenton.

Democrats unseated Gargiulo in 1987 when they won back all four Hudson Assembly seats.  Anthony Impreveduto (D-Secaucus) finished first with 25,291 votes, followed by David Kronick (D-North Bergen) with 23,500.  Gargiulo came in third with 15,708; Catrillo ran for the Senate that year, and the new GOP running mate, Lee Lichtenberger, came in fourth with 13,310.

His defeat came despite endorsements from the Jersey Journal, Hudson Dispatch, The (Bergen) Record, and the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.

Later, Gargiulo served as the Hudson County Republican Chairman and as superintendent of the Hudson County Schools of Technology.  He narrowly lost a Democratic primary for Hudson County Freeholder in 1984 to North Bergen Mayor Anthony DiVincent.

In 2023, Gargiulo retired after 34years on the North Bergen Township Commission.   A longtime ally of Mayor Nicholas Sacco, Gargiulo was appointed to fill a vacancy in January 1989 after Anthony Cospito resigned.  He won a special election that year.

“He was a tremendous person, a great public servant, and in education the foundation of the school of technology,” said Arango.  “He was like my brother.  He wasn’t about anything other than helping people.”

Hudson County Executive Craig Guy praised Gargiulo as “a true gentleman, an educator at heart, and someone who dedicated his life to serving the people of Hudson County and uplifting generations of students as an Assemblyman, Commissioner in North Bergen, and Superintendent of Schools for the Hudson County Schools of Technology.”

“I had the privilege of serving on the Board with him for more than a decade, and during that time I witnessed firsthand the passion and care he brought to education every single day. He loved his students and faculty deeply, knowing many of them by name. His leadership, vision, and dedication are why High Tech High School, the Frank J. Gargiulo Campus, bears his name and legacy,” Guy stated.  “Frank was also a mentor and confidant to many, including myself. His wisdom, kindness, and unwavering commitment to public service left a lasting impact on all who knew him. I extend my deepest condolences to his children, Frank, Vincent, Eugenia, and Natalie, his grandchildren, and the entire Gargiulo family during this difficult time. Hudson County has lost a tremendous leader, but his legacy will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched.”

Visitation for Gargiulo will be held on Thursday from 2 PM to 7 PM and on Friday from 9 AM to 10:30 AM at the Vainieiri Funeral Home in North Bergen.  A mass is set for Friday at 11 AM at Our Lady of Grace Church in Fairview.