Steve Adubato, Sr.

Stephen N. Adubato Sr. (December 24, 1932 – October 13, 2020) was an American teacher, union organizer, and Democratic Party politician from Newark, New Jersey. As a leader in the city's North Ward and the legislative representative of the New Jersey Federation of Teachers, Adubato was a powerful éminence grise and power broker in local, county, and state politics, mentoring numerous Democratic Party figures but never holding an elected public office himself. His brother Michael and son Steve Jr. represented Newark and its suburbs in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1974 to 1992 and 1984 to 1986, respectively.

Historian Terry Golway has referred to Adubato as "the legendary boss of Newark’s North Ward."

Early life and education Stephen N. Adubato Sr. was born on December 24, 1932, in Newark, New Jersey. He was one of five siblings. His father died in 1950 at the age of 44.

In 1949, Adubato graduated from Barringer High School in Newark. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Seton Hall University in 1954. Adubato attended Rutgers Law School but did not complete his degree.

While teaching, he obtained a master's degree in education from Seton Hall in 1960 and completed coursework for a Doctor of Education degree. Adubato was awarded an honorary doctorate from Kean University on May 11, 2010.

Teaching career and labor organizing He began his career in education as a history and government teacher in the Newark public school system, where he taught for 15 years.

Political and civic career In 1962, Adubato ran for the Essex County Democratic Committee in Newark's North Ward, a heavily Italian American region of the city. He won a contested race. In 1968, he was elected as chair of the North Ward Democratic Municipal Committee.

Adubato first rose to statewide prominence in 1969, when he led a revolt against state AFL-CIO president and former Newark mayor Vincent J. Murphy. After Murphy blocked the union from endorsing Robert B. Meyner in the gubernatorial election that year, Adubato led a protest at the AFL-CIO convention which forced Murphy to leave the convention hall. In 1973, The North Ward Center purchased the Clark Mansion, which previously housed a financially troubled private school. In addition to national acclaim for its educational, cultural, and social services, the North Ward Center provided Adubato with the nucleus of a massive political machine. For many years thereafter, Adubato would deliver large pluralities of the vote to his preferred candidates in Newark.

Personal life He married Frances Calvello in 1954. They had three children, including Steve Jr. and Michelle, who succeeded him as CEO of the North Ward Center in August 2009.

Adubato died on October 13, 2020, after a long illness at the age of 87.