Former deputy mayor succumbs after years fighting heart trouble.
By: Charlie Olsen
Most local residents will remember John Gelardi from his time served as deputy mayor, but the 61-year-old’s family will always remember him for his open, honest nature.
Mr. Gelardi died Aug. 24 from heart problems, which had started with a serious heart attack at age 36, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
"People gravitated towards John. He made friends easily and continued to make friends right up until the end," said his wife of 40 years, Kathy Gelardi.
Ms. Gelardi said the nurses would kiss him goodnight and when he died, they kissed him goodbye. One even told her that although she couldn’t remember three-quarters of her patients, she could remember every time she saw him even though she had only seen him five times.
Though he had a busy professional and political life, Mr. Gelardi always found time to spend with the family, Ms. Gelardi said.
"He balanced it very well he enjoyed the political life but he got me involved so it wasn’t like a separate life," Ms. Gelardi said.
When they first moved to Hillsborough about 20 years ago from Piscataway, Mr. and Mrs. Gelardi organized their Ernest Drive neighbors to oppose the completion of the Amwell Road bypass, which stopped at Ernest Drive.
Although they were unsuccessful in preventing the construction, Mr. Gelardi who worked as an accountant with a specialization in budgeting, a real estate agent and later a recruiter was drawn to politics.
"His political career was very important to him if it wasn’t for his health, he wouldn’t have given that up," said Mark Green, a broker at the Worden & Green office of Century 21 who worked closely with him. "He really tried to make the town a better place."
Mr. Gelardi was appointed to the Township Committee in August 1999 to fill the vacated seat of Committeeman David Redlawsk. Three months later, he was elected to a full term on a platform aimed at curbing rampant development. His term ended in 2002, when he lost the election.
"He loved the town, wanted to do right by the townspeople," Ms. Gelardi said. "John and the committee were a thorn in the side of the Republican Party. The Democratic Party was nonexistent at that time. He helped build it up."
When he managed to find some downtime, Mr. Gelardi enjoyed gardening, golf and working on his snow village. He also enjoyed a quiet games of pinochle and poker with friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Gelardi were held Monday. Ms. Gelardi said that the variety of people who attended was a tribute to his character: his eye doctor and his dry-cleaner both paid their respects.
But his family will remember him as the man who would spend his days attached to his cell phone, calling his family continuously throughout the day to make sure they were OK or just to say hello.
Mr. Gelardi is survived by his wife; his son John, of Bridgewater; his daughter Danielle Cianfaro, of Branchburg; a sister, Joanna Carallo, of Raleigh, N.C.
Mr. Gelardi had four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, for whom he used to dress up as Santa Claus a tradition that will be carried on, said Ms. Gelardi.