{"id":104060,"date":"2026-01-18T17:12:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T17:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/104060\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T17:12:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T17:12:22","slug":"pleasant-plains-resident-reflects-on-late-n-j-governor-richard-codey-and-their-70-years-of-friendship-inside-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/104060\/","title":{"rendered":"Pleasant Plains resident reflects on late N.J. Governor Richard Codey, and their 70 years of friendship| Inside Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: Welcome to Inside Out, our weekly roundup of stories about Staten Islanders making waves, being seen, supporting our community and just making our borough a special place to live. Have a story for Inside Out? Email Carol Ann Benanti at benanti@siadvance.com.<\/p>\n

\"Joe\"Governor Richard Codey, Nancy Delaney and Joe Delaney on Dec. 1, 2010 at Joe Delaney’s Retirement Party From Deloitte, in the Battery Garden Restaurant in Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. (Courtesy\/Joe Delaney)Staten Island Advance<\/p>\n

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 The passing of former New Jersey Governor Richard Codey on Sunday, Jan. 11 at age 79, touched the heart of so many, but one Staten Islander in particular \u2014 very personally.<\/p>\n

Codey, who died peacefully in his Roseland, N.J. home after a brief illness, had always created a positive, lasting impression through his unending kindness, compassion and significant gestures.<\/p>\n

Joe Delaney, a resident of Pleasant Plains, was a boyhood friend of Codey for some 70 years.<\/p>\n

Delaney is recently retired Chairman of Catholic Charities of Staten Island, who\u2019s served as Executive Director of the annual Notre Dame Bread of Life Food Drive for 35 years.<\/p>\n

He was born in Orange, N.J., where he first met Codey at St. John\u2019s Elementary School.<\/p>\n

Both youngsters served as altar boys and were active members of the C.Y.O. Sports Program.<\/p>\n

Delaney relocated to Staten Island in September 1971 upon his marriage to the former Nancy Merli.<\/p>\n

But throughout the years he still maintained his friendship with Codey and never hesitated to travel to New Jersey to assist Codey during his early years of running for public office. <\/p>\n

During the Fall of 1973, Delaney spent several months as a volunteer helping to elect Codey to the New Jersey State Assembly. <\/p>\n

Over the next 50 years, Codey would serve the people of New Jersey as an Assemblyman, State Senator, and Governor. <\/p>\n

And during those 50 years, Delaney noted that Codey would travel to Staten Island to support Delaney\u2019s work with several not-for-profit organizations, and assist him with his work associated with the local Democratic Party.<\/p>\n

\"Joe\"Federal Court Judge Eric Vitaliano, at left, Joseph Delaney and the late New Jersey Governor Richard Codey, pause for a photo during a political event on Staten Island back in 1982. (Courtesy\/Advance file photoAdvance file photo<\/p>\n

Most memorable for Delaney during Codey\u2019s visits to the borough of Staten Island he recounts, was one visit during the Fall of 1982 to help campaign for Delaney\u2019s friend, now Federal Court Judge Eric N. Vitaliano, who was running at the time for the New York State Assembly, representing Staten Island.<\/p>\n

Codey and Vitaliano held a news conference on Staten Island at a private residence near the Arthur Kill, and announced their intention to cooperate and promote building mutual assistance between elected officials from New Jersey and New York \u2014 and address the issue of environmental protections for clean water and clean air. <\/p>\n

Codey endorsed Vitaliano for State Assemblyman and they both promised to work together as representatives of their states to improve quality of life environmental issues. <\/p>\n

Vitaliano was elected several weeks later in November at his first attempt to become an Assemblyman, and went on to a distinguished career in Albany, and later as a Federal Court Judge.<\/p>\n

Delaney also recalled a time in December 1999 when Codey traveled to Staten Island to team up with Delaney to promote the Presidential Campaign of New Jersey Senator, Bill Bradley, who was at that time running against Vice President Al Gore for the 2000 Democratic nomination for President.<\/p>\n

A debate, sponsored by The November Group, was held at Afternoone\u2019s in West Brighton. <\/p>\n

Codey and Delaney were supporting Bradley for the 2000 Democratic Nomination for President, in which Codey and Delaney debated their two good friends, Steve Higgins and Richmond County District Attorney Mike McMahon, who were supporting Vice President Gore. The Debate was sponsored by Delaney\u2019s longtime friend, Jim Smith.<\/p>\n

And when Delaney was honored by the Notre Dame Club of Staten Island for his 10 years as president and recognized by the Catholic organization S.O.A.R (Support Our Aging Religious) \u2014 and for his many community service projects \u2014 Governor Codey would attend and speak of their friendship and their mutual commitment to serve the \u201cpeople of God in-need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then in 2010 when Codey wrote an autobiography of his life in public service called \u201cMe, Governor?,\u201d he cited Delaney in his book and their lasting friendship as one of his boyhood friends from Catholic school where they both served as altar boys and members of the C.Y.O. Sports team. <\/p>\n

\"CODEY\"New Jersey Gov. Richard Codey gestures during a news conference in front of the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J., on Monday, Nov. 15, 2004. (AP Photo\/Mike Derer)AP<\/p>\n

Fondly remembering Delaney, Codey wrote, \u201dJoe was the one kid in our group of friends, who always saw the best in each one of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delaney commented on the death of his lifelong friend by saying, \u201cI will miss Richard Codey very much. He was a devoted husband to his wife Mary Jo, a loving father to his two sons, and a loyal and true friend to everyone he knew. I think Codey was so successful in public office because he treated everyone he served as if they were family. He was especially a champion of providing assistance to The State Mental Health programs throughout New Jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delaney added: \u201cIt was very easy for me to see the good in young Richard Codey because even at a young age Codey was always kind and caring, as well as fun-loving. The wonderful young boy he was in the early 1960\u2019s, became the wonderful man who would one day become Governor of New Jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n

A LITTLE ABOUT GOVERNOR CODEY<\/p>\n

New Jersey\u2019s longest-serving state legislator, Codey was known for his humility, compassion, and dedication to public service, particularly in advocating for mental health awareness and reform. <\/p>\n

He served as acting governor from 2004 to 2006, after the resignation of Governor Jim McGreevey. <\/p>\n

His death prompted an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum, with a number of leaders and citizens reflecting on his impact and legacy. <\/p>\n

CELEBRATIONS – JAN. 18 TO JAN. 24<\/p>\n

JAN. 18<\/p>\n

Sunday is birthday time for Peter Lanza, Megan Lanigan, Alexa Spieler and Matthew Buono. <\/p>\n

JAN. 19<\/p>\n

Birthday greetings on Monday go to Anthony Ferreri, former regional executive director, Northern & Southwest Regions, executive vice president, North Shore LIJ Health System, Gary Gotlin, former Public Administrator, Melissa Alcock, Chuck Schmidt, Joe Knorr, Frank Buczkowski, Jim Ruger and John Cassidy, who turns 39 with wifeMegan and children Merrett and Clover.<\/p>\n

JAN. 20<\/p>\n

The happiest of birthdays Tuesday to Steve Zaffarano, Louis Camerier, Dominick Cataldo, Brittaney Erica Durkin, who celebrates her 29th, Caitlin Pietrangelo, and Kathleen Kenny.<\/p>\n

JAN. 21<\/p>\n

Happy birthday Wednesday to Anthony Patrick DeMaio, John M. Haas turns 27 years-old, Gloria Silverstein, Kerry Schacht, Glenn Nyback, Edwin Fong, Michael Dinten, Anthony Pelle Jr. and twins Anthony and Joel Perosi.<\/p>\n

JAN. 22<\/p>\n

Birthday greetings Thursday go to Mike Falco, Lisa Ferragano, Amanda Heyward, Theresa Furnari Scott, Vincent Lucchese, Vincent Mazza and twins, Jared and Lindsay Baskin. <\/p>\n

Happy wedding anniversary wishes to Jessie and Frank Dillon who celebrate their 33rd and to Edithann and Stephen Bradway.<\/p>\n

JAN. 23<\/p>\n

Celebrating birthdays on Friday are Ken Paulsen, Salvatore Sutera, Mary Scano, Thomas Scarcella, Karen Mandel, triplets Peter, Kristen and Nicole SanFilippo and twins Christina and Gina Petruzzi.<\/p>\n

JAN. 24<\/p>\n

Happy birthday wishes on Saturday go to Surrogate Matthew Titone, who shares his birthday with Bette Midler tribute artist, Donna Maxon, Larry Miraglia, Phyllis Schreiner, Linda Errichetti, Benjamin Gerard Ruggiero who turns 4, and Matt Bacchi who turns 39. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Editor\u2019s note: Welcome to Inside Out, our weekly roundup of stories about Staten Islanders making waves, being seen,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":104061,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[9,24,63,134,136,135],"class_list":{"0":"post-104060","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-staten-island","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-staten-island","12":"tag-staten-island-headlines","13":"tag-staten-island-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104060\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}