1982: MAURY PERILLI, PROPHET!

My dear friend Maury Perilli, humble man that he is, scoffs when I suggest he is a political prophet. During his time as a writer of "View From Here" in the Mercer Messenger, Maury has proven to be an uncanny seer into the future. The above article, written almost 20 years ago, points out the still existing problem of funding the Social Security program as it continues to descend into a financial disaster. Nineteen years later, politicians of all political affiliation have done nothing to alleviate the problem. The subject of reforming social security has been called the "third rail of politics" and indeed it is. Unfortunately, our elected officials are worried more about being re-elected than forming a bipartisan commission to solve the problem once and for all.

1991: MAURY PERILLI......A ROLE MODEL

Believe it or not, we senior citizens also have role models. On the local, personal level, the gentleman in the above graphic stands out as one of mine. "Maury" is not only a dear friend, but a humble role model for me personally. He has done it all in his lengthy career; first in the printing business, then in public service, where he served as Hamilton Township Committeeman, Police Director, Mayor, and many other successful life choices. His early years of growing up in a modest and relatively poor family are very similar to my early years when times were economically difficult. Through all his endeavors, Maury has maintained the admirable trait of humility.

1976: NAME THE NAMES OF VIOLENT JUVENILES

AMEN!

1976: WHEN AN 8TH GRADE GRADAUTE HAD TO KNOW HIS OR HER STUFF!

I would have flunked that exam, Maury! Well, perhaps if I had spent my entire 8th grade year and had access to all the contemporary text books and class note at that Kansas school, I would have passed. In retrospect, it gives a general idea of how education in years gone by was much more directed at learning the very basics of our culture. I don't need to remind myself that an 8th grade education in 1907 Kansas is farm removed from an education in the New Jersey (and America) of 2011.

1989: MAURICE PERILLI: THE MAYORS' MAYOR

This gentleman was responsible for many of the improvements which have been made in Hamilton Township over the past 50 years. "Hamilton Park," (Today's Veterans' Park,) the Police Station on Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, the very earliest contact with Edna Kuser which led to the ultimate sale of Kuser Farm to the Hamilton Township, the original "Master Plan" which included the removal of the township Municipal Building to the Morton Tract, Hamilton Hospital, and countless other taken-for-granted Hamilton Township entities can be attributed to the efforts of this exceptional man.

MAURY PERILLI HAMILTON COMMITTEEMAN

I have set up a folder in the Hamilton Township Library's Local History Collection for Maury with folders named, "NOTABLE PERSONS" and 'MAURICE PERILLI." This remarkable man has unbelievable personal and civic accomplishments. It was my privilege to have been invited to his 90th birthday party a year or so ago. The great dining hall in which his party was held was packed to overflowing with legions of his friends and admirers. I am proud to say he is one of my dearest friends. As you can see by the graphic above, Maury has made his mark as a local citizen, and continues to do so even to the present time. These accomplishments are almost too numerous to include on the printed page. Many years ago, my Hamilton High vocal music teacher, Miss Louise Baird, asked us to memorize this quote and I did:

"Greatness is Humble."

Maury Perilli is the epitome of greatness and humility.

2009: MAURICE PERILLI: A TRUE "HALL OF FAMER"

I am happy to count "Maury" among my dearest friends. I was commuting to New Brunswick during the years when he was the Mayor of Hamilton, and also an accomplished writer for the Mercer Messenger. His credo in the graphic above is typical of this humble man. I have added Tom Glover's credo to the bottom of the graphic. Maury has indeed made the world a bit more beautiful because he has lived in it.

1965: Mayor Perilli "plants the seed" for Veterans' Park

The proposed municipal center which was proposed those many years ago has been placed on the back burner. The Hamilton Library and Police Department are included in those plans. The adjoining "Morgan Tract" has been set aside for future development when financial conditions improve. Today's Veterans' Park had it embryonic start back in the 1960's when Maury Perilli was the mayor of Hamilton. Mayor Perilli established "Hamilton Park," known today as "Veterans' Park." The above article is from the Trentonian, 1965.

1979: Maury Perilli and I have a lot in Common

Anyone who has been reading my columns over the past 27 years will attest to the fact that I really have a rough time accepting the proliferation of radio and television trash that is being broadcast in our current environment. Blatant sexual content replete with equally tasteless comedy is being telecast right in front of very young and immature eyes. Whatever happened to the "Family Hours" from 8 to 10 which was a part of the scene many years ago? As you read Maury Perilli's article from 1979 above, I'm sure you will agree that things have gotten much worse over the past 30 years since Maury penned his article. Maury, you and I are cut from he same cloth as I am sure many others are. It is now out of control.

1979: MY FRIEND, MAURY

Maury, were we ever this young? Here we see Maury being sworn in as the Executive V.P. of the Roma Savings and Loan Association, Since then, Maury became the skipper of that venerable independent bank. Long may it survive,.

1972: The 1972 Elections

Mayor Maury Perilli on the results of the 1972 Presidential election, wherein Republican incumbent Jack Rafferty won the office of Mayor of Hamilton and Don Tamutus added another Republican to the Hamilton political scene.

1973: Maurice Perilli: A LOCAL LEGEND

If there is any one gentleman who deserved to be honored that gentleman is and was Maury Perilli. His political career was the epitome of "old fashioned" methods of governing when he served as the Mayor of Hamilton Township. Always at the beck and call of the citizen, and always serving in a very non-partisan way, even though a staunch Democrat.

1973: Al Martino: One of the best

There are few songs more beautiful than Al Martino's "Mary In The Morning." Along with Jerry Vale, Martino was a very under-rated male vocalist. He had a beautiful singing style.

1973: HAMILTON'S FINEST RECEIVE CITATIONS

I published the photo above a day or so ago, without the article I subsequently found from Mayor Maury Perilli's column on the heroic policemen who were honored back in 1973. Herewith an updated post giving those Hamilton men in blue the recognition they reserve, and preserving it for posterity. As my calling card states,

"Digitizing Local History, One Page at a Time!"

1965: Maurice T. Perilli:

He was one of our earliest and best mayors. I have a substantial collection of Maury Perilli memorabilia in the Hamilton Township Public Library's Local History Collection. During his tenure, the Hamilton Library, Hamilton's police station, the transit village, and "Hamilton Park" that was to become Veterans' Park was established. Maury was also involved in the early negotiations with Fritz and Edna Kuser for the township's acquisition of Kuser Farm in the early 1970's. As a dear friend of Maury's I can safely say he is one of the most honorable and honest men I have ever met. Unfortunately, many of the current generation have no idea of the accomplishments of this man who brought Hamilton from a rural community to the viable metropolis it is becoming today. Hamilton Township's recently published local history book says very little about the incredible accomplishments this man made as the Mayor of Hamilton Township. Thankfully, the Local History Collection at the Hamilton Township Library has a comprehensive collection of newspaper articles which recorded his accomplishments.

1978: Boys' Town of Italy

From the "CHAMBERSBURG" folder in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection, this photo of the planning of a Cedar Gardens dinner-dance fund raiser for Boys Town of Italy.

1978: Maury Perilli on Multi-Lingual Education

As one who spends hours going through old press articles, I have found countless stories of immigrants coming from Italy, Germany, Hungary, and other foreign countries who are eager to learn the English language and become assimilated into our society. Early 20th century newspapers reveal many stories of night school classes being avidly sought by the newcomers. There was never a suggestion that America adopt Spanish, or Italian, or German "as a second language."

1973: MAURICE PERILLI: A MAYORS' MAYOR

I was on a daily commute to New Brunswick during the 60's and 70's, and as a result had little knowledge of the political situation as it played out during that time. However, in going through my friend Maury Perilli's papers, I found that we had a very capable mayor who had a vision for Hamilton which has indeed materialized. It was during Maury's administration that the seed was planted for what would ultimately be Hamilton's beautiful Veterans' Park.

1963: Card Party Sponsored by St. Raphael PTA

Former Hamilton Mayor and dear friend Maurice (Maury) Perilli has donated some papers to the library for inclusion in our local history database. The above photo is extracted from a copy of the newspaper, "Hamilton Life," published in the early 1960's.

1945: Trenton's Perilli Family; True Patriots

The World War II folder recalls the untimely deaths of two of Trenton's World War II heroes, Dario Fortuanti and Sgt. William Perilli. Sgt. Perilli was former Mayor Maurice Perilli's brother. During World War II, Mr. and Mrs. Armando Perilli's sons Maurice("Maury"), Augustine ("Gus") , and daughter Louise served in the service along with brother William. Now we know why they are called "The Greatest Generation!"