In many ways, Ed Pulver gave his heart to the people of Jersey City, N.J.Now, the city has dedicated part of its landscape in memory of the late Seafarers vice president.
“Edward Pulver Way,” a portion of Washington Boulevard in Jersey City, officially was named on Sept. 9 at a well-attended ceremony in the municipality. Street signs bearing Pulver’s name adorn the road from Dudley Street to the Morris Canal. Identical signs were presented to Pulver’s daughters.
The Jersey City Municipal Council last year unanimously approved a city ordinance creating Edward Pulver Way.
Pulver passed away May 26, 2002 at age 78. A Jersey City native, he was a tireless philanthropist and dedicated trade unionist.
SIU President Michael Sacco called the street dedication “a well-deserved tribute. Ed was a true labor leader and someone who always fought for the underdog. He dedicated his life to helping others.”
Jersey City Mayor L. Harvey Smith, Councilman E. Junior Maldonado (who sponsored the ordinance) and SIU Vice President Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi were among the featured speakers at this month’s ceremony. All remembered Pulver as a genuine, humanitarian advocate.
“The people who knew Ed the best, without exception, described him in superlative terms,” Soresi noted. “I had the pleasure of knowing Ed Pulver and working with him, and I can say without hesitation that he’s truly deserving of this recognition from his native city. It’s a great way to remember a man who did so much to help others.
“Professionally, Ed was very well-respected, both politically and within the labor movement,” Soresi continued. “Personally, he was a great guy who would do anything for you. The dedication of Edward Pulver Way is an exclamation point at the end of Eddie’s overwhelming record of generosity.”
Among other activities, Pulver founded several organizations which helped immigrants adjust to U.S. society without sacrificing their heritage. He belonged to numerous community and civic groups including the National Executive Board of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, and the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation.
He served as executive vice president of the Filipino and Americans As One organization and as president of the Hudson County SPCA. Additionally, he served on the board of directors for the Hudson County School of Technology as well as for Saint Francis Hospital and Christ Hospital.
Pulver’s association with the Seafarers dated back more than 50 years. He headed the SIU’s office in Jersey City. He was the president and a founding member of the Hudson County Central Labor Council, and served on the state AFL-CIO executive board.
###
Printer Friendly Page