Statement from Parker President & CEO Roberto Muñiz on the Dec. 30 death of Monroe Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro
When I think of the passing of our friend, Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro, I think back on one of the most satisfying days of my career.
It was March 11, 2015, when we joined together at Parker at Monroe to celebrate its long-awaited grand opening on Schoolhouse Road with a ceremony, tours and a luncheon.
Among the many dignitaries in attendance was Mayor Tamburro, who had been so instrumental in helping Parker open this campus for the benefit of township residents. He had a big smile and a warm greeting for all of us.
I can still vividly recall Mayor Tamburro, immaculately dressed as always, standing in front of the 142 other guests and reading a proclamation from the township, welcoming Parker to the Monroe community. He spoke of how Parker is a leader in the transformation of long-term care to person-directed living, where residents have choice, dignity, self-determination and purposeful lives. He concluded that Parker at Monroe is an ideal fit for his community.
While we appreciated receiving many letters of congratulations that day from such dignitaries as former Gov. Chris Christie and Rep. Frank Pallone, I will never forget Mayor Tamburro’s personal commitment to this project. His attendance at our big event, and the reading of the proclamation, further underscored his passion for public service and for always doing what he believes is in the best interest of Monroe residents.
I was honored when he nominated us for the 2016 NJBIA Good Neighbor Award and joined our team for the awards ceremony.
We will miss our friend. And I will think of him every time I enter Parker at Monroe. The exceptional care that is provided today is due, in part, because of Mayor Tamburro’s hard work and support to our organization. I hope the community considers Parker at Monroe a part of his great legacy.