A former Jersey City deputy mayor under Glenn Cunningham, as well as an ex-director of the city’s housing economic development and commerce department, Anthony Cruz died at 61 years old from a heart attack yesterday.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
His career in public service spanned four decades, beginning in high school when he was part of student-led demonstrations calling for more Latino guidance counselors.
Later president of the Jersey City Tenants Union, Cruz led a rent strike that exposed absentee landlords and slumlords, forcing action from city officials.
“My father’s life was historic. The number of people he directly impacted in public and private is beyond measure. We mourn his loss,” Anthony Cruz, Jr. said in a statement.
“His absence will be profound and difficult to bear, but we celebrate, and take great pride in knowing, that he was a caring, honest, and humble man, a great father, uncle, brother, son and abuelo, who put his heart into serving other people without regard to personal accolades or financial gain. That is how he will be remembered.”
A proud Puerto Rican, Cruz was part of a delegation led by U.S. Senator John Corzine, on whose staff he served, which traveled to the Puerto Rican island of Vieques to bring attention to the U.S. military’s environmentally-disastrous abuse of the island.
Anthony was arrested with other Jersey City activists, demonstrating against the use of Vieques as a bomb-testing range in 2000.
As deputy mayor in 2001, he helped to breathe new life into the historic downtown special improvement district, spearheading an effort to restore the historic clocks on the Newark Avenue pedestrian plaza, and promoting progressive programs on affordable housing and home ownership for Jersey City residents.
Then as HEDC director, he helped to revitalize inner city residential communities and commercial districts in Bergen-Lafayette with programs that improved home facades and small shop storefronts.
Anthony is survived by his son, Anthony, Jr.; grandson, Anthony III; longtime partner Heather Hanks and siblings Rafael, Jose, Elizabeth, Roberto, Madeline, Jorge, David, William, Agustin, Diana and Jason, sisters-in-law Candy and Peachy and brothers-in-law Melvin, Blake and David as well as his mother, Isabel.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help defray the large medical bills incurred, setting a goal of $50,000. The page indicates that he died of a heart attack and did not have health insurance at the time of his passing.
His viewing will be Tuesday, May 31st, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Riotto Funeral Home, located at 3205 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City.
A funeral mass will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church, located at 252 9th St. in Jersey City, followed by interment at Bayview Cemetery in Greenville.
My deepest condolences to his family and friends May he RIP
I remember when he came to the home in Barrio Venezuela I received him. I don’t want to say much but I was in the music (salsa) I had come back to PR after being in the Johnny Colon East Harlem music school. (Louie Colon in Paterson also at la Tierra Sound Studios learning how to record. He was down to earth and his voice was out of this world.I admired him for all that he did accomplish in the music. All those years may God bless his soul .