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Middletown – (Monmouth County, NJ) Former State Senator Joseph Azzolina died last evening, Thursday, April 15, at St. Vincent's Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was 84 years old. Hospitalized for several months, he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Former state senator, former assemblyman, retired Naval officer, philanthropist, food market magnate, and family man, Joe was many things to many people. He was the person most responsible for bringing the Battleship New Jersey, BB62, back to the Garden State as a museum after the ship was mothballed following a career that spanned, like Azzolina himself, more than 40 years of Naval service. Azzolina had served aboard the New Jersey when the ship was called back to service off the coast of Lebanon in 1983.

Born in Newark and raised in Highlands, Azzolina never forgot his middle-class roots. The son of Italian immigrant parents, the family lived above the small candy and ice cream store they opened on Miller St. in 1927. When the Highlands Sea Bright Bridge was under construction five years later, the senior Azzolina's expanded their store shelves to incorporate lunch foods for the construction workers. Joe and his sister, the late Grace Scaduto, worked alongside their parents, learning a work ethic and a sense of generosity neither ever forgot. The little grocery store, later the Food Basket on Bay Ave. in Highlands, was the birthplace of the chain of supermarkets, with headquarters in Middletown, that now comprises ten stores scattered throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Azzolina left the family business before the end of World War II, enlisting in the Navy, later serving in the Navy Reserve, and called back to service for the Korean conflict. He returned to the family business after Korea to make it grow, create a food cooperative with another grocery chain, develop a trademark and begin expansion, all the while earning his college degree and advancing in the Navy Reserve. He retired as a Captain in the Navy Reserve after more than 40 years of service.

Most proud of his Navy career, Azzolina was mentor for hundreds of young men and women who joined the Navy under his guidance and with his encouragement. He himself earned three Meritorious Service Medals and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medals, among numerous other awards.

Azzolina represented the 13th district in the state Assembly for seven years, beginning in 1965, then again for two years in 1986 and another 14 years ending in 2006, when he retired from public office. He also served for two years in the State Senate from 1973 to 1975.

As a generous and willing philanthropist, Azzolina and his supermarket company were generous to all organizations from churches, boy and girl scouting, fire departments and first aid squads, individual families and his beloved Navy, especially NWS Earle in Colts Neck.

In addition to founding and serving as president of the Food Circus Super Market company, Azzolina was owner of The Courier, the award-winning weekly newspaper based in Middletown and covering the Bayshore area. He had purchased the newspaper from the family of the late Matthew J. Gill, after Gill died in 1982. Although not in the journalism field in his many and varied endeavors, Azzolina said at the time he had purchased the paper to ensure "it would always represent the voice of the Bayshore, the people of Monmouth County, and would always be a voice fighting for their rights and protecting their vision."

Fred Rast, Atlantic Highlands Mayor:

Rast immediately had the borough flags lowered to half-staff and put a memorial message on the bulletin sign in front of Borough Hall, recalls decades of memories of Azzolina. Both are natives of the area, and while Azzolina was Rast's parents' age, the families played and worked together. He recalls a time when he, his father and grandfather, worked shoulder to shoulder with the Azzolina family cleaning up borough streets after a hurricane.

"He was a great American, a great patriot, and exemplified the epitome of the American way," the Mayor said, "he proved that no matter where your roots are, no matter what your economic background, if you work hard, have ideals, maintain a vision, and have honest, forthright basic tenets, you can get ahead in America."

Assemblyman Steve Corodemus, who represents the (R) 11th District:

"Joe was the head and glue of the Monmouth delegation. He was there as an Assemblyman, as a Senator, then once again as an Assemblyman. He was always so generous in teaching 'the new guys,' including myself when I first served with him in 1992. I was proud to continue serving with him until he retired.

Joe was an eclectic person; he was thrifty in the supermarket business, pinching pennies but never cutting corners to make a profit, yet he was generous to a fault to both people and charities. I don't know of any worthy cause he did not support, nor give whatever he could to help. I have known him for 30 years, and recognize that he always shepherded the entire Monmouth County delegation; he was truly the glue that held us all together. Monmouth County residents were always well represented by Joe Azzolina. Joe had a great sense of humor, an indomitable spirit, was brutally honest, and was always a fighter. We all are better for having known him and will miss him. My prayers and sympathy to his friends and family."

Senator Jennifer Beck, who represents the (R) 12th District:

State Senator Jennifer Beck served as Assemblyman Azzolina’s Chief of Staff from 1993 through 1997 and credits him as the reason she is in public service. “For me, he was family, a great friend, and an unforgettable mentor. He was just such a generous man. He approached life with zest, and had a real kindness for people in general. He was truly a good leader.

I feel fortunate I had the chance to work on him recently on his biography, and it is still amazing how much he has accomplished in so many different areas of his life…his business, as a public figure, as a Senator, an Assemblyman, and of course as a Navy officer. What will always stand out for me is his true love of people, his love of the state of New Jersey, his country, and his undying commitment each of these. He was a very special mentor to me, and I will really miss him.”

Senator Beck recalled the first year she was working for Azzolina and saw his generosity in so many ways. “I saw how much food he gave away through the supermarket,” she recalls, “he never turned down anyone who asked. I always thought to myself that it was almost to the point where his management team would question him and ask whether he was in the charity and philanthropy business or the profit making business. I remember when I asked him if I should prepare a press release because he was giving away so much. He looked at me and said firmly, “I don’t do it for that reason. I’ll never forget where I came from.”

As a mentor, Assemblyman Azzolina made you think long and hard, Sen. Beck continued, “He was painfully direct and I was always amazed at his memory. He would question you and then question you again, and sometimes you thought maybe he wasn’t’ paying attention or didn’t understand. But actually, the opposite was true. He was paying attention and he understood quite well. He was simply forcing you to think about what you were saying a little more. He could raise a conversation we had had months before and restate it exactly. He was a very intelligent man.”

“This is a hard day for all of us. He was such a good, kind person; he truly deeply cared about people. He was a man that simply cared.”

Senator Joseph Kyrillos, who represents the (R) 13th District

“I am saddened that my friend and legislative partner Joe Azzolina has passed away.

He loved New Jersey and America, and from an early age and throughout a long life dedicated his energy and spirit to serving the people of this state and nation.

I first learned about Joe when I was in the fourth grade and he was in the State Senate. Little did I know that I would go on to work in his supermarket as a teenager and to serve side by side with him in the Legislature.

We represented the same district together for 14 years. He helped teach many others and me the value of hard work.

Businessman, military officer, legislator, father, and leading citizen, Joe Azzolina lived a remarkable life and led by deed and example.

Joe will be missed by all who knew and respected him, and Susan and my prayers are with his family.”

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