John I. Crecco is the founder and driving force of the John I. Crecco
Foundation, established in 1964. Through his efforts, the organization has
contributed over one million dollars to area hospitals for cardiac care
equipment. The John I. Crecco Foundation has also played a major role
in the construction and creation of the telemetry unit at Columbus Hospital
in Newark and the Green Room at Newark Beth Israel Hospital.
John’s entire adult life has been dedicated to helping others. He has
sponsored many youth league sports teams in Bloomfield for over forty
years. He is also the founder of the Crecco Athletic Club which sponsors
the annual Bloomfield Junior Olympic Track Meet. Today, John sponsors
eight Little League teams and two major teams. He is also a benefactor
to the William Foley Football League.
In 1976, John, who was the Essex County Olympic Wrestling Chairman,
arranged to have the Polish Olympic wrestling champions visit Bloomfield
along with their coaches and staff. They were housed by Bloomfield
residents during the Thanksgiving week. They wrestled the United States
Olympic team at the Bloomfield High School gym where they were victorious.
They enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at the homes where they were staying
before returning to Poland.
John Crecco also sponsored the "Helping Hands" of Bloomfield for many
years. This program places signs throughout the community to let children
know where to find "Helping Hands" in case of need.
While serving as Mayor, the foundation purchased "Pluggie the Robot"
for the Bloomfield Fire Department to teach fire safety in all the schools. |
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The children enjoy the robot and learn about fire safety. The Crecco
Foundation recently provided all the Bloomfield police cars with
defibrillators to respond to emergency cardiac problems. All of the
police officers are trained to use this life saving equipment which has saved
many patients' lives.
John has been the recipient of many awards throughout his distinguished
career. The United States Olympic Committee, the Bloomfield-Glen Ridge
League of Family Service, the Salvation Army, the City of Hope, the Essex
County Leukemia Society, the U.S. Amateur Athletic Council, the Bloomfield
PBA, the March of Dimes, the Bloomfield Volunteer Emergency Squad,
the New Jersey Pharmaceutical Society, the Bloomfield Little League,
the United Way of Bloomfield, and many other organizations too numerous
to list have honored John Crecco for his efforts on behalf of his fellow man.
John Crecco has dedicated 22 years of service to the Township
of Bloomfield. He was elected as a Councilman-At-Large in 1971,
and re-elected to the post four times. He was elected Mayor of Bloomfield
in 1986 and served until 1989. Following a brief respite, John was once again
elected to the Township Council in 1992. In 1994, John was appointed Deputy
Commissioner of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board by Governor
Whitman. He once again served as Mayor from 2001 to 2002.
John is a graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.S. in biochemistry, and
a U.S. Navy Veteran, and has been awarded eleven battle stars for combat.
He and his wife, former New Jersey Assemblywoman Marion Crecco, have
two daughters, Susan Fratello and Ginni Cummings; and four grandchildren,
Kristie and Marc Fratello, and Jonathan and Michael Cummings. |
