Wall of Recognition

Dr. Edward Aulisi has achieved remarkable success in his chosen field of Neuro-Surgery, and is a recognized specialist in pituitary tumors and skull-based tumors; and, Dr.Aulisi is currently the Chief Resident for Neuro Surgery, and a Neurological Surgeon at George Washington Hospital-Center; and, Dr. Aulisi’s longstanding commitment and service to our community has been recognized by many awards, including his selection as the Outstanding Neuro Surgeon in the Washington, D.C., North Virginia and Maryland area by Washington Magazine.

Dr. Felice Salerno has achieved remarkable success in his chosen field of Vascular Surgery, and has worked at such prestigious institutions in Texas at Baylor University Medical Center, Temple Veterans Administration Center, and the Mountainside Hospital and Hunterdon Medical Center; and Dr. Salerno has held such distinguished positions as Staff General and Vascular Surgeon, Chief of General Surgery and Director of Residency Training, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, President of the Specialty Staff among many others, and has published numerous papers on surgery and medicine in a variety of medical journals; and, Dr. Salerno’s Academic appointments include Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey; and Dr. Salerno’s longstanding commitment and service to our community has been recognized with many awards, including his selection as One of the Top Surgeons in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly Magazine.

Tommy Devito grew up in Belleville and attended School Number Four. He was the founder and original member of the Four Seasons, one of the premier rock n’ roll groups of the 1960’s’. Other members included Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, and Nick Massi. He performed with the group until 1970. One of the band’s first successes was the #1 hit :Sherry” in 1962 followed by “Big Girls Don’t Cry”. The band sold over 10,000,000 records worldwide during their hit making streak spanning the years 1962-68, making them one of the most successful rock n’ roll groups in history. The Four Seasons were inducted into inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, and most recently, were characterized in the 2006 Tony Award winning Broadway Musical, The Jersey Boys. A permanent display commemorating Mr. Devito’s accomplishments will be posted on the Belleville Public Schools Wall of Recognition at Belleville High School.

Dr. Arthur F. Fost started the first Allergy Training Program in New Jersey, continues to be active in research and testing, and has published papers in the Medical Journals on Asthma and Allergies, and, Dr. Fost has bee repeatedly cited in New York Magazine as; “Best Doctors in the New York City Area” for his work in Allergy; and, Dr. Fost has spent a lifetime of volunteer ism to help the less fortunate in countries such as Ethiopia, Rwanda, Guatamala, El Salvador and the Middle East; and, Dr. Fost’s longstanding commitment and service to our community has been recognized with many awards, including a State of New Jersey Joint Legislative Resolution, and The New Jersey Leadership Volunteer Award.

Dr. James M. Orsini developed the first cancer unit at the Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, developed the first dedicated oncology unit at the same center, continues to be active in the treatment and care of cancer patients, and has published numerous papers on cancer in a variety of medical journals; and, Dr. Orsini has made numerous contributions in the field of oncology, is the owner/president of the Essex Hematology Oncology Group of North Jersey, P.A.. and staff physician at Clara Maass Medical Center, Columbus Hospital, Mountainside Hospital and St. Barnabas Medical Center; and, Dr. Orsini’s longstanding commitment and service to our community has been recognized with many awards, including Man of the Year-UNICO Association, Man of the Year Award-Boy Scouts of America, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, New Jersey Hospice Healthcare Provider of the Year and with a Physician of the Year US Post Office Beast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Stamp.

Warren Kimble has become one of America’s best-loved contemporary folk artists who has combined his love of Americana, antiques and collectibles, architecture, and painting to create an accessible, universally appealing new style of American Folk Art; and, The popularity of Warren Kimble’s contemporary fold art images has helped position himself as one of the country’s most successful home furnishing designers, with more than 45 licensing partners that generate more than $100 million in yearly retail sales; and, Warren Kimble’s outstanding original paintings, which include both fine art and fold art works, have been the subject of one-person gallery shows in New York, Boston, and Syracuse, as well as in towns throughout Vermont; and Warren Kimble’s honors and awards include Syracuse University’s 2002 George Arents Pioneer Medal , the university’s highest alumni honor, and honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont, the selection of his work for “The Original Art 2001” by the Society of Illustrators Museum in New York, and the recognition of his work for excellence by numerous marketing and trade organizations.

Dr. Michael G. Ippolito has served with distinction as Executor Director of the Philmore Associates since 1983 providing administration, policy and planning as well as the clinical treatment of anxiety and stress disorders for our community; and, Dr. Ippolito’s dedication to the community is evidenced in the many venues in which he has voluntarily provided his time and expertise, including his service as a consultant to the Belleville Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse, the co-production of an anti-auto theft film for presentation of elementary school aged inner city children, and the development of a training program for coaches, officials and parents involved in recreational sports in the community; and, Dr. Ippolito’s longstanding commitment and service to our community has been recognized with many awards, including the prestigious United States Congressional Achievement Award, and the nomination for the National Labor Committee’s Lewis Hines Award for outstanding professional work with children and families.

Dr. Lori R. Ippolito has served with distinction as Clinical Director of the Philmore Associates since 1983 specializing in the clinical treatment of anxiety and stress disorders for our community; and, Dr. Ippolito’s dedication to the community is evidenced in the many venues in which she has voluntarily provided her time and expertise, including her service as a professional advisor to the Belleville Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse, the co-production of an anti-auto theft film for presentation to elementary school aged inner city children; and, Dr. Ippolito’s longstanding commitment and service to our community has been recognized with many awards, including the prestigious United States Congressional Achievement Award, the Women of Achievement Award by the new Jersey General Assembly and the nomination for the National Labor Committee’s Lewis Hines Award for outstanding professional work with children and families.

Honorable Leonard D. Ronco entered the United States Navy during World War II, serving as a Turret Gunner aboard the USS Quincy, a heavy cruiser deployed in both the European and Pacific theaters; and Judge Ronco later served in private and public practice as an attorney in the positions of Referee of the Juvenile Conference Committee of Belleville, State Assemblyman from Essex County, Secretary to the Essex County Superintendent of Elections, Associate Counsel of the Essex County Welfare Board, Assistant Essex County Prosecutor, the first State Deputy Public Defender in charge of the Essex County Region, Chief Trial Attorney for the Prosecutor’s Office, Acting Essex County Prosecutor, and as a Superior Court Judge; and, Judge Ronco served as the Director of the State Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and the Director of the Governor’s Office of Casino Policy, both appointments made by New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne; and, Judge Ronco holds the distinction of having served in all three branches of the state government in New Jersey a legislator, executive and jurist.

Dr.Norman C. Fost has achieved remarkable success in his chosen field of Pediatric Medicine, and has worked at such prestigious institutions as Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the University of Wisconsin Children’s Hospital where he has served as Professor of Pediatrics, Director of the Program in Medical Ethics, head of the Child Protection team and as a general pediatrician; and, Dr. Fost has held such distinguished positions as consultant to the United States Food and Drug Administration, numerous federal committees and commissions, including President Clinton’s Health Care Task Force, been a frequent guest on national television shows including Nightline, Frontline, Crossfire, Donahue and Oprah, and has published over 100 papers on medicine and ethics in a variety of medical journals; and, Dr. Frost’s many professional appointments include the Princeton University Board of Trustees in New Jersey, and Chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics; and, Dr. Fost’s longstanding commitment and service to the community has been recognized with may awards, including the Nelle Westermann Prize for Research Ethics.