Obituary of Thomas “Tommy� Lazzio

Lazzio, Thomas of Paterson, age 93 at rest in Wayne on October 22, 2004. Born in Paterson, NJ on July 29, 1911 he was a lifelong city resident. Mr. Lazzio was a prominent Labor Leader for Local #300 UAW (United Auto Workers Union)Paterson, NJ. Thomas Lazzio graduated from Central High School and was an all-star football and baseball player. He studied aeronautical engineering at Rutgers University and at Wright Aeronautical Engineering School. Mr Lazzio studied labor courses at the University of Michigan and Michigan State. He also attended the United Auto Workers School. During World War II, he was an instructor and representative with the B-59 Air Force Bases in the United States, and then he was re-assigned an engine technical advisor to B-29-9th Bomber Groups on the South Pacific Islands of Tinion, Saipam and Guam. After the war, his life work was dedicated to the labor movement and education. Mr. Lazzio was elected President of Local #300 - UAW - Wright Aeronautical White Collar Workers Union. He was a Commissioner of the Paterson Board of Education. He was also elected a New Jersey Assemblyman and served as Chairman of the Labor and Industry Committee of the State of New Jersey. He was appointed a member of the White House Conference on Education by President Dwight D. Eisenhower during this republican administration. He also was appointed by the United States Secretary of Labor to the Veterans Re-employment Rights Commission and the Civil Rights Committee. In 1957, he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of the City of Paterson. Mr. Lazzio was a Service Representative for the UAW International Staff. He served as the Chairman of the Passaic Valley Sewer Commission. When he resigned from this position, he became its General Superintendent. Mr. Lazzio was also appointed Commissioner of the Passaic County Vocational and Technical High School. In 1964, Thomas Lazzio was appointed a member of the New Jersey State Board of Mediation by Governor Thomas H. Kean, and later became the Chairman of this board. He was re-appointed to this Board in 1995 by Governor Christine Whitman and held this position until December 2003. Mr. Lazzio was predeceased in 1999 by his loving wife Theresa (nee Mandata) Lazzio. He was also predeceased by his brothers: William, Lawrence, and Charles and by his sisters: Anna Romano, Lena Petrocelli, Josephine Corbo, and Jeanette Battaline. He is survived by many loving nieces and nephews, great- nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews. He is also survived by many loyal friends and associates. Mr. Thomas Lazzio will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa, on Monday at 9:15 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. Gerard RC Church, Paterson at 10:00 AM. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. Friends may call Saturday 7-9 PM and Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. For more information go to www.festamemorial.com. OBITUARY Thomas Lazzio age 93 of Paterson died Friday. Born in Paterson, NJ on July 29, 1911 he was a lifelong city resident. Mr. Lazzio was a prominent Labor Leader for Local #300 UAW (United Auto Workers Union) of Paterson, NJ for most of his life until his retirement in 2003. Mr. Lazzio was a graduate of Paterson Central High School and was an all-star football and baseball player. He studied aeronautical engineering at Rutgers University and at Wright Aeronautical Engineering School. Mr Lazzio studied labor courses at the University of Michigan and Michigan State. He also attended United Auto Workers School. During World War II, he was an instructor and representative with B-59 Air Force Bases in the United States, and then was re-assigned as engine technical advisor to B-29-9th Bomber Groups on the South Pacific Islands of Tinion, Saipam and Guam. After the war, his life work was dedicated to the labor movement and to education. Mr. Lazzio was elected President of Local #300 - UAW - Wright Aeronautical White Collar Workers Union. He was a Commissioner of the Paterson Board of Education. He was elected as a New Jersey Assemblyman and served as Chairman of the Labor and Industry Committee of the State of New Jersey. He was appointed as a member of the White House Conference on Education by President Dwight D. Eisenhower during this republican administration. He also was appointed by the United States Secretary of Labor to the Veterans Re-employment Rights Commission and the Civil Rights Committee. In 1957, he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of the City of Paterson. Mr. Lazzio was a Service Representative for the UAW International Staff. He served as the Chairman of the Passaic Valley Sewer Commission. When he resigned from this position, he became its General Superintendent. Mr. Lazzio was an appointed Commissioner of Passaic County Vocational and Technical High School. In 1964, Thomas Lazzio was appointed a member of the New Jersey State Board of Mediation by Governor Thomas H. Kean, and later became Chairman of this board. He was re-appointed a member of the Board in 1995 by Governor Christine Whitman and held this position until December 2003. Mr. Lazzio is predeceased by his loving wife Theresa (nee Mandata) Lazzzio, his brothers, William, Lawrence and Charles. His sisters, Anna Romano, Lena Petrocelli, Josephine Corbo and Jeanette Battaline. He is survived by many loving nieces and nephews, great- nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews. He is also survived by many loyal friends and associates. Mr. Thomas Lazzio will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa is in charge of arrangements.