Grand Marshal

The Honorable Albert J. Cifelli

 

Born and Raised in Harrison, Al Cifelli attended Holy Cross school and Essex Catholic High School. Al continued his education at Rutgers University-Newark, graduating magna cum laude in 1973 and earning his Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers Law School three years later.  Following law school, Al served as judicial clerk to the Honorable Daniel F. Gilmore.

Today, Al is engaged in private law practice in Harrison.  He is a member of the New Jersey, Hudson County, and West Hudson Bar Associations, having served as that organization's President.  He was appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court Ethics Committee.  He has served as the Municipal Prosecutor for Kearny and Public Defender for Harrison.  He is a New Jersey Certified Tax Assessor, having held that office in Harrison since 1980.

Active in the West Hudson community, Al served 15 years on the Board of Trustees for West Hudson Hospital and was it's chairman.  He is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #402.

In 1997, Al entered the political arena and was elected to the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  Currently in his third term, he has been Vice-Chairman of the Board and is the Chairman of the Contract and Ethics Committee.

Al's relationship with the West Hudson St. Patrick's Day Parade goes back to 1977 when he and 13 other men stepped off for the Al Cifelli Association for the very first time.  Al's father, the standard bearer of the Al Cifelli Association, was one of the United Irish Associations staunchest supporters until his death in 1993.  Al's mother Vera was honored as Deputy Grand Marshal for the 1999 parade.  His sister, Barbara Cifelli-Sherry serves as a Kearny Council member representing the second ward.

Today, Al lives in Kearny with his wife, the former Joan Walsh, and their two children, James and Mary.  He is a member of St. Stephen's Parish.

 

Deputy Grand Marshals

Agnes O'Donnell and James Maguire