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Obituary for Louis J Gambaccini
Louis J Gambaccini, age 87, of Skillman, died peacefully at home on August 19, 2018.
Perhaps best known for creating NJ Transit, Louis J. Gambaccini was a national public leader, revered for his vision and inspiring leadership as a public transportation expert and committed public servant of the highest integrity and character. Most important, Lou was a beloved family man, professional, colleague and friend.
Lou was born in New Haven, CT to Basilio and Pierina (Malerba) Gambaccini, Italian immigrants from Le Marche region of Italy.
He graduated from the University of CT in 1952 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and served in Korea where he earned a Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. The Maxwell School set the course of Lou’s professional life throughout his five-decade public service career. He spent 30 years at the Port Authority of NY & NJ, in progressively responsible positions, including Vice President and General Manager of the PATH rail system and as Assistant Executive Director. A resident of Ridgewood, NJ, he was nominated by Governor Byrne to serve as NJ Commissioner of Transportation from 1978 – 1982. Lou became a highly respected figure in New Jersey, especially for his role in creating New Jersey Transit, the nation's largest statewide public transit agency and served as its founding Chairman.
He later served eight years as the General Manager of SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority). He ended his long career as Senior Fellow Emeritus at the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
Lou’s visionary leadership, highest standards of professional and personal integrity, tireless work ethic, and reputation for inspiring others to excellence and success are all a part of his legacy that continues to thrive through the many lives he touched both personally and professionally throughout his life.
He is survived by his six children – Mark, Claire, Beth, Paul, Sue and Jill – their spouses, ten grandchildren, his loving friend Mary Alice and his devoted aide, Ibrahim. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister and his beloved wife, Annette, to whom he was married 39 years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Friday, August 24th, in St. Charles Borromeo Church, 47 Skillman Rd, Skillman, NJ. Burial will follow at 2pm in Valleau Cemetery, Ridgewood, NJ. Visiting for relatives and friends will be on Thursday, August 23rd, from 2-4pm and 6-8 pm at the Hillsborough Funeral Home, 796 US Highway 206 , Hillsborough, NJ 08844.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rutgers Foundation/Eagleton Institute, 191 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, or online at: www.eagleton.rutgers.edu. Please specify gift is for the Louis J. Gambaccini Lecture Series.
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