NJ Bridge to be Dedicated to Food Circus Founder Joseph Azzolina

Food Circus Supermarket founder Joseph Azzolina will have the new $138 million Highlands Bridge in New Jerseydedicated to him Wednesday, May 23 to honor his contributions to the state.

The dedication will take place at the War Memorial located at the intersection of Highland Ave and Portland Rd in the Highlands to celebrate the Captain’s life in the Borough he loved.

“We are excited to pay tribute to my father with the naming of this magnificent bridge in his honor,” said Azszolina’s son Joseph Azzolina, Jr. “It is most fitting as he lifeguarded at the beach under the bridge, helped build Fort Hancock, learned the value of hard work from his growing up at their family grocery store. Captain Joe loved the Bayshore and the people in the community.”

Azzolina grew up in the Highlands where his family had their first food store on Miller Street. He was a graduate of Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass. Years later, his first Food Circus Supermarket Foodtown was built and opened in Middletown. From there he owned and operated Super Foodtowns in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties.

Azzolina served the people of New Jersey as a State Senator and became an Assemblyman for the 13th District representing the Bayshore area.

In 1980, he was appointed by then-Governor Brendan Byrne to serve as Chairman of the State of New Jersey USS New Jersey Battleship Commission, an organization charged with the task of obtaining the vessel from the Navy and establishing USS New Jersey – the most decorated warship in U.S. history - as a museum and memorial in its home state where she is presently in Camden.

He also worked with the New Jersey Food Council on many issues. Yet his achievements in the food industry are not recognized in New Jersey alone; Joe Azzolina also served as both a member and a national director for the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) located in Washington, D.C., which serves as a national and international educational association for the industry.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, Congressman Frank Pallone, Senator Joseph Kyrillos, Senator Jennifer Beck and Joseph Azzolina, Jr. will be on hand to make remarks and unveil the new signage.

 

 

 

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