Late, lifelong Jersey City resident honored with street named after him

Saturday, March 05, 2011
By TERRENCE T. McDONALD
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A late, lifelong resident of Monmouth Street will have the intersection of Monmouth and Fifth streets in Jersey City named after him at a dedication this morning.

Louis Calamito, known as "the mayor of Monmouth Street," died in 2005 at the age of 82. He was born Downtown, attended School 5 and was a lifelong parishioner of Holy Rosary Church.

The Calamito family is "very excited" about the dedication, said Joe Calamito, Louis' son.

"He was a really great guy. He would welcome everybody, all the new people moving into our area downtown," Joe Calamito said. "He would just be there for them with open arms."

Calamito, who had four children with his wife, Mary, fought in World War II, earning a Bronze Star, among other honors. He would have been embarrassed by all the fuss, his son said.

"He was a very humble person, and he'd probably say something like, 'Oh, what are you doing?'" Joe Calamito said. "I know he'd be very proud."

Mayor Jerramiah Healy, City Council members, and Calamito's friends and family will speak at the dedication today at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Monmouth and Fifth streets.