Gerald A. Calabrese

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Gerald A. Calabrese (born February 4, 1925) is an American Democratic Party politician, who is the long-time mayor of Cliffside Park, New Jersey. Calabrese played in the NBA for two seasons with the Syracuse Nationals.

Mayor Calabrese is a graduate of Cliffside Park High School where he led the school's team to the state basketball championship.^[1] After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, he attended St. John's University where he was chosen for All-American honors. He went on to a professional basketball career with the Syracuse Nationals, predecessor to today's Philadelphia 76ers.

Mayor Calabrese was elected to the Cliffside Park Borough Council in 1955, and then became mayor in 1959. Since his reelection as mayor in 1965, he has served continuously as the Borough's chief executive. Mayor Calabrese was elected to the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1975, 1978 and 1982, and was Freeholder Director in 1984. From 1960 until January 1991, Calabrese was employed by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, retiring as the director of water and sewage. He has also served as Chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization for multiple years.

As of 2008, Calabrese is the longest serving Mayor in the State of New Jersey.^[2] Furthermore, Calabrese has dedicated over 52 years to public service.^{[citation needed]}