Joseph A. Palaia Sr., Former State Senator, Champion For Special Needs Children, Dies At 89

OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ — Joseph Anthony Palaia Sr., who served as the state senator from Monmouth County from 1989 to 2008 and who was a champion for children with special needs, has died. He was 89 years old.

Palaia's death was confirmed by representatives of Francioni, Taylor and Lopez Funeral Home in Neptune on Saturday afternoon.

Palaia, who was a teacher and principal at Wanamassa Elementary School in Ocean, spent much of his life in politics. He started by serving on the Ocean Township Council from 1967 to 1971, and then ran for mayor, and served as the township's mayor until 1979. He spent one term serving on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders before taking the step to the state level, where he spent most of his political career.

Palaia, a Republican, was elected to the Assembly representing the 11th District in 1982, and after four terms made the jump to the state Senate in 1989, where he remained in office until 2008.

“I am saddened by the loss of Joe Palaia. He was one of the kindest and most decent legislators to ever serve in Trenton," state Sen. Tom Kean Jr., the Senate Republican Leader, said in a released statement. "As a son of the Jersey Shore, Joe was beloved by the Monmouth County residents. A dedicated public servant, he served for more than four decades as a council member, mayor, freeholder and legislator."

“As a former teacher and principal, Joe brought his passion for education to Trenton as one of the strongest advocates for academic programs to support children with special needs," Kean said. “Joe was one of a kind, and he will be sorely missed.”

"I am terribly saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Joe Palaia who was a legendary figure in Monmouth County and throughout New Jersey," 11th District Assemblyman Dave Rible, the Republican Conference Leader, said Saturday.

"Joe Palaia was both a friend a mentor who helped inspire me to run for office and showed me what it meant to be a public servant," Rible said. "Throughout my career in politics Senator Joe was always there to offer support and share the wisdom he acquired in his decades of public service."

"Senator Joe was a true man of the people who touched so many lives as an educator and public official," Rible said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to Senator Palaia's friends and loved ones during this difficult time."

Palaia was especially known for his advocacy for programs and services for children with disabilities, pressing the federal government to increase funding of programs for those children and supporting local programs and organizations as well. He also advocated for and put forth a bill that appropriated funding for programs for students who were academically gifted and talented.

In an October 1997 tribute to Palaia in the state Senate, when Palaia was to be honored by Search Day Program in Ocean Township, a nonprofit private school for children with autism, Rep. Michael Pappas said Palaia had been a key sponsor of legislation to fund school-based programs for students with disabilities:

"Senator Palaia, a graduate of Rider College in 1949, with post-graduate work at both Seton Hall and Rutgers, has been a longtime voice for children with disabilities. Moreover, he has sponsored legislature to protect and fund school-based programs and services for students with disabilities. In fact, in 1987, Senator Palaia was honored by the New Jersey Association of Schools, and Agencies for the Handicapped as Legislator of the Year," Pappas said in the tribute posted on the Capitol Words website.

"Senator Palaia serves as an example to us all on how we as responsible legislators, can show compassion towards our disabled youth. Senator Palaia's lifelong dedication deserves our wholehearted thanks and I commend him on his years of loyal service to our State and to those who are sometimes forgotten."

During his years in the state Senate, Palaia presided in a variety of leadership roles: Assistant Majority Leader, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Republican President Pro Tempore and was a member of the Senate Education Committee. Joe Palaia Park in Ocean Township was named in his honor in 1998; it had formerly been known as the Deal Test Site, according to reports. He also served as the Assistant Minority Whip in the Assembly.

Palaia, who was born in Neptune in 1927, received his bachelor's degree from Rider University and had a master's in education in administration and supervision from Rutgers University.

He is predeceased by his son, Joseph James Palaia, who died in January; and his wife, Wedell Palaia, in 2005.
Surviving are his daughter, Denise Palaia, who is the principal at Wayside Elementary School; grandsons Anthony Palaia and his wife Aimee, and Adrian Palaia; and extended family.

Visitation is Tuesday, Aug. 23, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Francioni, Taylor and Lopez Funeral Home, 1200 10Th Ave., Neptune. His burial will be at Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Wayside Elementary School PTA, 733 Bowne Road, Ocean, NJ 07712.

Joseph A. Palaia photo, at a ribbon cutting ceremony in 2003, from New Jersey State Department of Transportation files