Montclair Deputy Mayor Hurlock honored at Italian heritage celebration
Montclair Deputy Mayor William L. Hurlock was honored during the Oct. 5 Essex County Board of County Commissioners 2021 Italian Heritage Celebration.
Lifelong Montclair resident and Essex County Commissioner Brendan W. Gill honored Hurlock in recognition of his service as the deputy mayor and First Ward councilman, "as well as his efforts to highlight the longstanding Italian culture and heritage that is part of the fabric of Montclair," as described in a press release from the county.
The ceremony, which returned after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, is held yearly to celebrate Italian culture and heritage and recognizes the contributions of Italian-American residents to Essex County. The celebration was held via Zoom teleconference.
“My great-grandparents all came to America in the early 1900s," Hurlock said after receiving the honor, according to the press release. "They made sacrifices and worked hard so I could have the opportunities I have been blessed to enjoy. One hundred and 20 years later, their great grandson sits humbly before you this evening as the deputy mayor and First Ward councilor of Montclair, and managing partner of a national law firm.”
Hurlock is a fourth-generation Italian-American and honorary member of the Club Aquilonese San Vito Society of Montclair. He works closely with the community outreach program of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church parishoners, and helped establish the sister city program between Montclair and Aquilonia, Italy. He has participated in numerous events here and in Italy as part of that collaboration.
“The Parrish of Mt. Carmel is the heart and soul of the Italian- American Community in Montclair," Gill said, as quoted in the county release. "Deputy Mayor Hurlock has made it a point to recognize everything Mt. Carmel means to our past, while working diligently to ensure the Parrish and the Italian-American community remain a part of our future.”
In addition to Hurlock, the board recognized Sgt. Joseph J. Corio of the Bloomfield Police Department; Joseph Fiordaliso of Livingston, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; and Dr. Frank Mazzarella, chief continuum care officer at Clara Maass Medical Center. The board also honored the 2021 Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade & Italian Heritage Committee and 2021 parade honorees.
Further highlights of the program included opening and closing prayers from the Rev. Thomas D. Nicastro, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Nutley, and musical selections performed by Gabrianna Boomer, cantor at St. Mary’s Church in Nutley.