Italian Amer. Club floats on to its 50th year
Columbus Day parade to be held Sunday in No. Brunswick
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer
The North Brunswick Italian American Social Club will celebrate two momentous occasions this October: the 26th annual Columbus Day parade will be held Sunday and the club will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The parade will begin at 1 p.m. Isidore "Izzy" Chibbaro will be the grand marshal of the parade and will be this year's honoree at the Columbus Day Ball, which will be held Friday at the Pines Manor in Edison.

"I feel it is a great honor and a privilege to do it," he said.

Chibbaro, 80, was born in New Brunswick and received his early education at St. Mary of Mount Virgin grammar school, and then graduated from St. Peter's High School in 1945, where he played baseball and basketball. He continued his education at Rider Business College in Trenton, graduating in 1947.

Also in 1947, Chibbaro and his father, "Charlie," and his brother, Matty, founded Chibbaro Brothers Insurance, which is still in operation today. He married the late Rose Reale and together they raised three children, Carol, Sal and Richard.

The family moved to North Brunswick in 1952, where Chibbaro served on the Board of Adjustment, the Planning Board and the Industrial Commission. He is an active member of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New Jersey and the Professional Insurance Agents.

Chibbaro also is an active member of St. Mary of Mount Virgin Church, where he served as an altar boy, an usher and a lector, and is currently a trustee. He was honored with the Knights of Malta Designation in 1989 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City for his dedication and commitment to the Catholic Church, which is one of the highest honors bestowed upon a layperson.

"That's my nature. I always help people. I was raised that way," he said.

Chibbaro is an avid fisherman and spends time in Point Pleasant with his wife, Lorice, and his grandchildren Andrea, Chris, Courtney and Kristina. Although he is retired, he also works two days a week at the insurance company, which he has handed over to his children Carol and Sal.

Fittingly, Chibbaro was one of the original founders of the Italian American Social Club 50 years ago. He said the purpose was to "render assistance to local Italians" since a lot of Italian immigrants were moving to the area at the time and did not speak English, "and to have a nice little social gathering as well."

Some of the events the club holds are a Mardi Gras celebration, a Christmas party, spaghetti dinners, bocce ball games, the annual Carnevale Italiano, monthly trips to Atlantic City and bingo nights.

Current president Vito Puleio, who was one of the original members, said there are close to 300 members total between the club and its ladies auxiliary. He said the club met at different locations in the beginning before moving to its current home on Cozzens Lane in the 1970s.

"My motive is to keep the Italian American club going and to keep as many people as possible, and to celebrate Italian heritage," Puleio said.

Chibbaro said his concern is that young people have not shown an interest in preserving the mission of the club. To become involved, contact Puleio at 732-246-1278.