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Joe Fiordaliso, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, died last night at St. Barnabas Hospital.
He was 78.
Said Governor Phil Murphy in a statement:
“Joe Fiordaliso was a consummate public servant, a trusted colleague, and a good friend. Above all, he was a devoted husband to his wife Marilyn, father to Dana and Joe, and grandfather to six loving grandchildren.
“As President of the BPU since the beginning of my Administration, Joe skillfully led our work to responsibly transition to a clean energy economy while always putting the needs of consumers first. He also was a key figure in our storm response efforts and in ensuring that all New Jerseyans had access to critical services like clean water, electricity, and broadband. And, as a former three-time Mayor of Livingston and member of the Township Council, he was a dedicated member of his community.
“Every time you saw Joe he was wearing his signature offshore wind pin or handing one out to anyone and everyone he met. He had an infectious personality and generous spirit. Tammy and I will miss his wise counsel and friendship. May he Rest in Peace.”
Born and raised in the Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey, Joseph L. Fiordaliso was nominated by Governor Richard Codey, and confirmed by the Senate, to serve on the Board of Public Utilities in 2005. He was renominated by Governor Christie in both 2011 and 2014. He also served on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Committee on Critical Infrastructure and Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment, and was a member of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners and also the Eastern Interconnection States’ Planning Council.
Mr. Fiordaliso was elected to the Livingston Township Council in 1988 and went on to serve for three terms, including serving as Mayor three times during his tenure. In 1990, he was appointed by the Essex County Executive to serve as the Director of Planning and Economic Development. He served as Senator Codey’s District Director and, in 2004, was named by Governor Codey as Deputy Chief of Staff.
Mr. Fiordaliso and his wife Marilyn resided in Livingston. They have two children, Joe and Dana, and six grandchildren.
In a statement, former Governor Codey said:
“Joe Fiordaliso was a great friend and dedicated public servant. I had the pleasure of working with him closely throughout my career and saw first-hand his impact on our state. He had a deep understanding of the issues that affected New Jerseyans and passion for doing great work.
“I will always remember one of the biggest moments in both of our lives. It was August of 2004 and Gov. McGreevey stunned everyone with his announcement he was stepping down. For me, it meant I was to become governor. And for Joe, it meant he was about to become one of my top lieutenants and most trusted advisors. We got on the phone and I told him I needed him ASAP. There was only one problem: Joe and his wife, Marilyn, were vacationing somewhere on an island. Getting a flight was a problem, but Joe found a way. To this day, I’ll never know how he got back to New Jersey as quickly as he did. But that was Joe in a nutshell. He found a way. He always found a way. My deepest condolences go out to Marilyn, their two children and six grandchildren.”
Wrote Politico of the BPU under Mr. Fiordaliso’s leadership:
“It is an often-overlooked agency that regulates services such as gas and electricity, but under Murphy it took on greater responsibility as he set a goal of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050 — and then moving it up to 2035, one of the most aggressive in the nation. That meant the BPU under Fiordaliso was responsible for the regulatory push to electrify homes, overseeing the startup of the state’s offshore wind industry and helping coordinate New Jersey’s re-entry to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, among other things.”
NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka issued the following statement:
“NJBIA mourns the passing of Board of Public Utilities President Joe Fiordaliso today. Both as President and in his years prior with the BPU, Joe was truly and passionately committed to his job and its many missions. And even when we didn’t agree on policy issues, President Fiordaliso always had an open door, took part in many NJBIA events and had receptive ears to our concerns. NJBIA offers our heartfelt condolences to Joe’s family and friends. He will be greatly missed.”
Said Speaker Craig Coughlin:
“I am sorry to hear about President Fiordaliso’s passing. He was a talented, dedicated public servant in local and state government. He set a tone of collegiality and respect, bringing people together to get things done for New Jersey.”
The following is a statement from Christina M. Renna, president & CEO, Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey:
“Throughout his esteemed career, President Fiordaliso was a dedicated public servant and leader in statewide energy policy. His impact extended beyond the realm of energy, as he was a respected figure within New Jersey’s business community, working collaboratively with the CCSNJ and its members to promote economic development and job creation. The CCSNJ had the privilege of hosting President Fiordaliso many times during his tenure as President of the Board, as recently as last month, and as always, we appreciated his willingness to address our members thoroughly and candidly. We send our sincerest condolences to his family during this difficult time.”
Utility and Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA) Executive Director Dave Rible released the following statement:
“It would be difficult to find a more caring, dedicated person than Joe Fiordaliso. He exemplified the best in what we could hope for in a public servant, first as a councilman and mayor, then in his work with Governor Codey and then leading the Board of Public Utilities. It is a remarkable legacy. Joe was approachable and easily likable but perhaps most importantly, he was a family man, dedicated to his wife, children and grandchildren. This is a sad day for New Jersey.”
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