Frank Joseph Guarini Jr. (born August 20, 1924) is an American politician from the U.S. state of New Jersey. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for seven terms from 1979 to 1993. He is of Italian descent. Since the death of Al Quie in August 2023, he is the oldest living former U.S. representative.[2]
Frank J. Guarini | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 14th district | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph A. LeFante |
| Succeeded by | Bob Menendez (Redistricting) |
| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 12th district | |
| In office January 11, 1966 – January 11, 1972 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frank Joseph Guarini August 20, 1924 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Dartmouth College (AB) New York University (JD, LLM) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant[1] |
| Unit | USS Mount McKinley |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Early life and education
editGuarini was born August 20, 1924, to Frank Joseph Guarini Sr. and the former Caroline Critelli. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1942. He served in the United States Navy aboard USS Mount McKinley from 1944 to 1946. Guarini received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College, in 1947 and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law in 1950 as well as a Master of Laws degree in 1955. He pursued graduate work at The Hague Academy of International Law and was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1951. He commenced practice in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Political career
editGuarini served in the New Jersey Senate from 1965 to 1972. In 1970, Guarini unsuccessfully challenged incumbent U.S. Senator Harrison A. Williams in the Democratic Primary, losing 66%–34%.[3]
Congress
editGuarini was elected as a Democrat for New Jersey's 14th Congressional District to the 96th United States Congress and was reelected six times. He retired from Congress in 1993. His district number was eliminated following the 1990 United States Census, but in sense was succeeded by Bob Menendez in the renumbered 13th district.[4]
Legacy
edit
The Jersey City post office building on the corner of Montgomery and Washington has been dedicated to Guarini. John Cabot University in Rome, Italy, designated its campus as the Frank J. Guarini campus, and the library at New Jersey City University is also named in his honor.
Guarini received the America Award of the Italy–USA Foundation in 2014.
Dartmouth has created the Frank J. Guarini Institute for International Education in recognition of his longtime support of the college.[5] In 2018, Dartmouth further recognized him by announcing the naming of the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies in his honor.[6]
Guarini's alma mater New York University School of Law named two of its centers/institutes after him. The Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law focuses on land and environmental policy.[7] The Guarini Institute for Global Legal Studies focuses on transnational law.[8] After the death of Al Quie in August 2023, he became the oldest living former U.S. Representative.[9] On August 20, 2024, he turned 100.[10]
References
edit- ^ Naval Order of the U.S. (2003)
- ^ Wildstein, David (August 20, 2023). "Happy 99th Birthday to Frank Guarini, America's oldest living ex-congressman". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved December 6, 2014.
- ^ "Senator Bob Menendez Guilty on All Counts". New Jersey Business Magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ "The Honorable Frank J. Guarini '46". May 11, 2018.
- ^ "Frank J. Guarini '46". January 17, 2019.
- ^ "Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law". NYU Law - Guarini Center.
- ^ "Guarini Institute of Global Legal Studies". NYU Law - Guarini Institute.
- ^ "Former Minnesota governor and congressman, moderate Republican Al Quie, dies at 99". AP News. August 19, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ Wildstein, David (August 20, 2024). "Happy 100th Birthday, Congressman Frank Guarini". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
