George, Siriannis to be honored at Libutti dinner

The Chamber Annual Awards Dinner Committee has announced that the 2013 Libutti Award recipients are Mary L. George and the Sirianni Brothers: (Councilman Michael Sirianni, Rev. Anthony Sirianni, Monsignor Sam Sirianni and Long Branch Fire Chief Joseph Sirianni.) The awards will be presented at the 80th Annual Chamber Awards Dinner, April 4th at the Ocean Place Resort.

The Louis G. Libutti Community Service Award was established in February, 1970 to commemorate Louis G. Libutti, a former President of the Chamber. Exemplary leadership, outstanding professional achievement and community service are the criteria for this award. Past recipients include Dr. Margaret “Meg” Fisher, John and Linda Brockriede, Mayor Ed Johnson, The Damiano Family, Auggie DeVito, Dr. Frank Vozos and the Villapiano Family.

Additionally, the Long Branch Housing Authority will be receiving the President’s Award for the Gregory School Apartments. Gregory School Apartments (the former Gregory School). Gregory School Apartments have been renovated to preserve the building’s historic character while providing amenities for today’s over 55 community.

The Invest in Long Branch Award will be presented to Proficient Account Solutions for their restoration of the Lasky House. Business Improvement Awards will be presented to Mar Belo restaurant, and Jamm Printing for the physical improvements to their properties.

Sponsors for the event include: Monmouth Medical Center, Brookdale Community College, Ocean Place Resort and Spa, Ansell, Grimm & Aaron, Insurance Office of America, and Monmouth University.

The Louis G. Libutti Community Service Award was established in February, 1970 to commemorate Louis G. Libutti, a former President of the Chamber. Exemplary leadership, outstanding professional achievement and community service are the criteria for this award. Past recipients include Dr. Margaret “Meg” Fisher, John and Linda Brockriede, Mayor Ed Johnson, The Damiano Family, Auggie DeVito, Dr. Frank Vozos and the Villapiano Family.

Mary George was born and raised in Long Branch. She is a graduate of Long Branch High School (Class of 1957) She went on to Monmouth College, now Monmouth University where she received a BS in Education.

In 1961, she married William O. George Jr. Bill was attending Murray State University and Mary taught English at Reidland High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Returning to New Jersey, Mary taught English at Shore Regional High School.

Mary managed Salton Block China in West End from 1992 to 2006. She was an integral part of the West End Business Community for many years. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce since 1992 and Secretary for the last eight years.

Mary has a strong commitment to educating our youth and has served continuously on the Long Branch Board of Education since April of 1994. She has served on the Finance, Buildings and Grounds and the Board Policy Committee since then. She is a life-long member of the Long Branch Green and White Association and still volunteers her time working at the High School athletic events. Mary has been a communicant of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Long Branch.

In 1995 she received the Community Service Award from the Rotary Club of Long Branch. She has served on the Ronald McDonald Advisory Board. In 1996, Mary was appointed a Trustee of the Long Branch Free Public Library here in Long Branch, and has served as treasurer 10 years. She continues to serve in that capacity. She was heavily involved in the expansion/renovation of the Library including the dedication wall at the entrance.

Mary is s the proud mother of 5 — William, Daniel, Alexander, Thomas and Mary Katherine and the loving grandmother of 17!

The Sirianni brothers were all born in Long Branch to Marie and the late Anthony Sirianni.

Fr. Anthony attended the local Catholic grammar school, Long Branch High School and Glassboro State College from which he was awarded a BA Degree in Education for the Disabled. He taught school for one year and then entered Immaculate Conception Seminary on the campus of Seton Hall University where he received his Master of Divinity Degree in 1989.

Fr. Anthony was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward T. Hughes on May 27, 1989 for service in the Diocese of Metuchen. His first assignment was as associate pastor in Holy Trinity Parish, Bridgewater, with responsibility as hospital chaplain at Somerset Medical Center. Fr. Anthony received his certification as hospital chaplain by the NACC (National Association of Catholic Chaplains) in 1992.

In 1994, Fr. Anthony was granted a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Drew University. His next appointment as associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish, New Brunswick allowed him to continue as hospital chaplain at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Following that assignment, he was appointed as associate pastor in St. Peter’s Parish, while still continuing his hospital ministry at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. Fr. Anthony’s ministry at RWJ (from 1996-2000) specialized in caring for children and adolescents dealing with bereavement and terminal illness.

In June, 2000, Fr. Anthony was appointed associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Three Bridges where he implemented the youth program called “Life Teen.” Two years later he was assigned to St. Augustine Parish in Kendall Park. On May 23, 2003, Fr. Anthony was appointed Administrator of St. Theodore’s Parish in Port Murray. Bishop Paul Gregory Bootkoski subsequently appointed Fr. Anthony Pastor of St. Theodore on May 25, 2004 and Pastor of St. Helena Parish on August 1, 2008.

During his years of ministry, Fr. Anthony has maintained an active involvement in the local community, especially in the area of health care for children. He has served on the boards of: The Institute for Children with Cancer and Pediatric HIV and Blood Disorder at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson and the Coalition for Maternity Mortality Review (State of NJ appointed). Fr. Anthony has published articles for parents on bereavement. He is a trained crisis counselor having served at Ground Zero after 9/11 and continues to be on call for Catholic schools and parishes as a grief counselor.

Anthony’s twin, Joseph, grew up in the kitchen with his father and became Chef of Sirianni’s Friendly Café after his graduation from The Culinary Institute of America. Joseph entered cooking competitions and was award first prize for originality from the New York Hotel & Restaurant show, (1981). Joseph furthered his education and became a Certified Executive Chef from the American Culinary Federation.

Joseph left Sirianni’s and went to work for Marriott hotels in 1989, he started as a Chef at the Marriott Marquis, where he was on the Culinary team touring the Northeast in culinary competitions as well as the Chef of the Encore kitchen producing 1000 meals per meal period. Joseph transferred to the room’s management and the General Manager of the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Long Island City, Queens, New York. During Joseph years as a hotel manager he continued his education and became a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) from the American Hotel and lodging association. Currently, he is the General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott in Atlantic City. In 1977, Joseph joined his father’s volunteer fire company, West End Engine Company, by 1983; Joseph served as the Captain of the West End Engine Company. After the fire academy opened, Joseph was furthering his education and grooming himself to run for Fire Chief. In 1999 Joseph joined the Elberon First Aid, and became an Emergency Medical Technician, (EMT), and by 2000 Joseph became Captain of the squad. serving for three years. Joseph also started a small company The CPR Learning Center LLC, where he teaches CPR to schools, hotels, and social clubs.Joseph has been honored during his years of service, as the recipient of the Jack Kiely Award, The Fire Fighter of the Year awards by the Long Branch VFW, and EMT of the Year, once by the VFW and once by the Elks club.

In 2012, Joseph was elected as 2nd assistant fire chief for the City of Long Branch and again furthered his education in obtaining a Bachelor in Fire Science. He is serving this year as the Fire Chief here in Long Branch. Joseph is a member of the Christ the King Holy Name Society, and in 2013 donated his time to cook three dinners during Lent, each dinner was a success for over 200 people. Joseph also is a member of the Amerigo Vespucci Society, one of the oldest Italian clubs in America, right now with a busy schedule he assists his Cousin Ralph in cooking the Vespucci Annual Tripe dinner. Joseph also is a member of the St Jerome Knights of Columbus. He married his best friend Ann Marie Sleavin, and they have two beautiful daughters Andrea, a 2nd grade school teacher at the Anastasia School here in Long Branch, and Alexandra who is a Human Resource Manager at the Hotel Pierre in New York. Alexandra is engaged to Dominic Ranieri, a senior sales manager of the Langhan Place Hotel in Manhattan.

Michael Sirianni is the Principal / Director for the Monmouth County Vocational School District assigned to the Culinary Education Center, Asbury Park, NJ. The Culinary Education Center is collaboration between Brookdale Community College and the Monmouth County Vocational School District.

Born and raised in Long Branch, son of Tut and Marie Sirianni, owners of Sirianni’s Friendly Café in West End Long Branch. Their family business was in operation in Long Branch for 53 years. Michael graduated Long Branch High School, June 1974.

Michael received his B.S. in Hospitality Management, B.S. in Food Service Management, A.O. S. in Culinary Arts, A.O.S in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Michael received his Masters in Educational leadership fro m New Jersey City University.

Michael’s past work experience includes; Manager of Sirianni’s Friendly Café, Long Branch, NJ; Director of Catering and Catering Manager – Marriott Hotels (Saddle Brook Marriott, Saddle Brook, NJ; Essex House, NY; Lexington Marriot Resort, Lexington KY; and Westchester Marriott, Westchester NY). He was also Catering Manager at the Ocean Place Hilton, Long Branch, NJ. In 1992 pursued teaching for the Monmouth County Vocational School District and was designated Assistant Principal / Assistant Director in July 2005. In July 2006 he was named the Principal / Director of the Culinary Education Center of Monmouth County

Michael was elected to the Long Branch City Council in 2010. He has served one term as Council President. Michael has also served on the Long Branch Board of Adjustment from 2007 to 2010. Michael was elected to the Long Branch Board of Education in 1987 and served as President of the Board from 1989 to 1990.
Michael’s son, Michael William, is currently attending Montclair State University.

Monsignor Sam Sirianni was born and raised in the City of Long Branch, Monmouth County. A graduate of Long Branch High School, class of 72; Monsignor Sirianni received his BA in Liberal Arts from Juniata College, Huntingdon PA, and a Master of Arts from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in Student Personnel. Monsignor Sirianni studied for the priesthood at Darlington, Immaculate Conception Seminary, Mahwah, New Jersey.

Monsignor was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Trenton on November 10, 1984. Monsignor Sirianni has been stationed in 9 parishes throughout the Diocese as a parish priest. Bishop John Smith appointed him pastor of Saint Robert Bellarmine in Freehold Township, as of December 1, 2008. In April of 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named him a Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor. In the Spring of 2012, Bishop O’Connell appointed Monsignor Sirianni as Dean of Western Monmouth County, with the title of Vicar Forane.

Monsignor Sirianni, was appointed Director of the Office of Worship by Bishop John Reiss, and has served the Diocese in this role for the past 22 years.

Monsignor Sirianni has served as the Chapter Director of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, Trenton Chapter for 2 terms, and continues to serve on the Executive Board of the Trenton Chapter. In his capacity with NPM, Monsignor Sirianni has worked with a variety of musicians throughout the Diocese in order to implement the Church’s vision that the sung liturgy would become normative in the lives of the faithful.

On Saturday, November 23, 2013, Monsignor Sirianni was invested as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. As a Knight of one of the oldest order of Knights, Monsignor Sirianni assists in the financial support of the Holy Shrines in the Holy Lands as well as works to preserve the Christian presence throughout the Middle East.

The Chamber will be conducting a Silent Auction that evening with gifts from our Chamber members. Sandy Sasso will be providing the entertainment with her jazz ensemble. Tickets are $100. and are available through the Chamber office at 732-222-0400 or info@longbranchchamber.org.