Membership
RI DIRECTOR 2008-2010
RI TREASURER 2009-2010
Michael was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey and graduated from New Jersey City University with a B.A. degree in Political Science. Upon graduation in 1967, Michael began his teaching career at Colonia Senior High School in Woodbridge, NJ where he taught American History, Economics and International Studies. After departing the teaching profession, Michael became a self-employed businessman. He and his wife Ann, of 47 years, along with two of their three sons, are the owners of Mulberry Street Italian Food Center in Ocean County, NJ.
Michael has been a member of the Rotary Club of Brick Township for the past 33 years, having proudly served in all positions of leadership culminating in the Presidency in Rotary year 1993-94. He has held numerous district-wide positions, which include District Club Service Director from 1994-96 and District Governor in 1997-98. Following his tenure as District Governor, Michael served as District Trainer for four years, served as District Foundation Chair during which time district 7500 was number one among all districts in zones 31 and 32 in Annual Giving, faculty member of several Zone Institutes and as Regional Vice Chair of the Rotary Leadership Institute. Michael has been elected to serve as his District’s Representative to the Council on Legislation in 2001, 2004 and 2007. Presently, at the appointment of District Governor Harriet Primack, Michael serves as Chair of the “Team 7500 Membership Development, Retention and Extension Committee” in support of all clubs in the district.
In the Rotary year 2001-02, Michael served as RI Membership Coordinator for Zone 32 and was re-appointed the following year by RI President Bhichai Rattakul. During this time he also served as Promotions Division Chair for Zones 31-32 Institute in Williamsburg, Va., and was proud of his selection as his District’s Representative to serve on the Nominations Committee for selection of RI Director.
In the Rotary Year 2003-04, Michael served as RI Poverty Alleviation Task Force Coordinator for Zone 32. as well as the Operations Division Chair for the Zone Institute held in Burlington, Vt.
During the Rotary Centennial year, Michael was asked to serve as the Family of Rotary Coordinator for Zone 32 and was selected by RI Director Dave Linett to be the General Chair of the Rotary Zone Institute in Cambridge, Md. During the period from 2004 to the present, Michael has been assigned as the personal representative of several RI Presidents to various District Conferences throughout the Rotary world.
He is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a level II Major Donor, Benefactor of the Permanent Fund, a Charter Member of the Bequest Society of the Rotary Foundation, as well as a recipient of the Meritorious Service Award.
Michael served a two year term as Zone 32 Strategic Advisor of Annual Giving as well as serving as the Executive Trainer for Mid-Atlantic P.E.T.S. that comprises six districts in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In 2006, he was selected as the nominee for RI Director from Zones 31-32 for the 2008-2010 and on 1 July, 2008 Michael was nominated by President DK Lee and approved by the board to serve as liaison director to the RI Finance Committee and the RI Rotary Action Groups Committee. He was also a member of the Administration Committee. As of July 1, 2009 President John Kenny asked Michael to serve as RI Treasurer for the 2009-2010 Rotary year. Michael was appointed by Past President Sukuji Tanaka to serve a three year term (2012-2015) as a member of the Rotary International Finance Committee and presently is the Chair of the committee. Michael also serves on the Rotary International Convention Committee for Sao Paulo Brazil.
Michael and Ann have three sons, Michael Jr. and Ralph, both graduates of LaSalle University, Philadelphia, Pa., and Mark, a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida. Michael and Ralph share in the ownership and operation of the family business while Mark is employed as a Captain with Jet Blue Airlines. Michael’s commitment to the Rotary Foundation is “from the heart” as evidenced by his entire family, wife, parents, children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren all having been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows.