On May 9, 2023, during the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Town Council, Mayor Alberto G. Santos issued a Proclamation recognizing Barbara Cifelli-Sherry as Kearny’s Senior Citizen of the Year. Each year, Mayor Santos selects a senior citizen from the community who has shown outstanding service to their families and the Kearny community.
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise also issued a citation in honor of the occasion and the County’s Department of Health and Human Services Office on Aging highlighted the celebration at a Senior Citizen of the Year Luncheon held on May 10, 2023, which included outstanding senior citizens from all twelve of the municipalities in Hudson County.
Barbara Cifelli-Sherry is a proud American who comes to public service naturally, following in the footsteps of other family members. Her father, Al Cifelli Sr., was a councilman in Harrison for over twenty-five years and her brother Al Cifelli, Jr., is currently serving his sixth term on the Hudson County Board of Commissioners. Barbara began her elective career as a Hudson County Committee Member. In 1997, she was elected to the first of five terms as a Second Ward representative to the Kearny Town Council where she served as Council President from 2005 until her retirement in 2009.
Barbara Cifelli-Sherry is affectionately known as “The Commish” because of her role as the Chairperson to the Kearny Police Department during her entire tenure. She was also a member of the Finance, Insurance and Water Committees and the liaison to the Civil Rights Commission. Upon her retirement from the Town Council, Mayor Alberto Santos appointed her to the honorary position of Deputy Mayor and reappointed to her to the Kearny Urban Enterprise Development Corporation. Barbara spends her time enjoying leisure moments with her family and friends while continuing to contribute her time and talent in benefit of our community.