Leader, Innovator and Beloved

Stephen Adubato, Iconic Educator & North Ward Leader, Passes Away at 87

Stephen Adubato, Sr.
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Stephen N. Adubato Sr., 87,  who was an iconic and beloved leader in New Jersey, has died.

Adubato was a pioneer in the North Ward as well as an educator who also created change by forming new slates for Democratic candiates, opposing  the status quo during the 1960's.  His work in the North Ward and beyond continued throughout his life.

He was the founder and most  prominent figure in the North Ward  in Newark during the the 1960s and a life-long advocate for the area.  In his career, Adubato was a passionate teacher in the Newark school system for over 15 years, and was on the Executive Board of the Newark Teacher’s Union and worked with the New Jersey Chancellor of Higher Education.

Adubato also founded the  Robert Treat Academy in 1997, among the very first ever charter schools in New Jersey.  

Long time friend and colleague Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. expressed his condolences and share memories about Adubato.

"I have known Steve for well over 40 years. He was a mentor for me when I worked at The North Ward Center and when I entered government," said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.  "Some people may not have liked Steve’s aggressive style, but he was a forward thinker and a tireless advocate for the City of Newark and its residents. Known as the city’s ‘Second Mayor,’ Steve was a major influence in calming relations and stabilizing the city after the riots and had the foresight to create The North Ward Center, which for generations has provided recreation and education programs to children, kept senior citizens engaged in their community and supported working class adults with workforce training to lift themselves into a better life. Those were his lifelong ambitions – to improve the city which he loved dearly and help all those who lived here. Today is a sad day because we have lost a visionary, a father, a leader and, most of all, a very dear friend.”