Joseph A. “Joe” Palaia Sr. was born on February 3, 1927, in Neptune, New Jersey and died on August 20, 2016.
He was an American politician.
Palaia served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1981 to 1989 and in the State Senate from 1989 to 2008, representing the 11th Legislative District.
Joseph was a graduate of New Jersey’s Rider College where he received a B.S. degree in Business Administration in 1949.
Then, he went to study at Rutgers University and was awarded an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision.
Prior to politics, Palaia was an educator and principal of the Wanamassa Elementary School in Ocean Township (Monmouth County) where he resided.
Joseph was a member of the Ocean Township Council from 1967 to 1971 until he became mayor in 1971.
As the mayor, the Seaview Square Mall was built and the oversaw the township’s conversion of the Deal Test Site into a park which was renamed for him in 1998.
He was appointed as Ocean Township’s mayor until 1979.
After he then served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1979 to 1981.
During 1981, Palaia was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, where he served until 1989.
Wedell Simon was his wife, with whom he had to children with.
Joseph A. Palaia passed away at 89 years old.