Article for The Breeze Newspaper By Bruce Doorly
James has two brothers who also made significant contributions to society. His older brother, Michael (1921-2019), served in the Navy during World War II and was on duty when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. James’s younger brother, Anthony (born 1934), was the mayor of Raritan for sixteen years. In this article we look at the DeCicco family, how they first arrived in Raritan, and the impact that the three brothers made.
Their mother – Lena Troisi - came to Raritan from the Province of Avellino in Italy in 1896 when she was just an infant. She lived with her parents, Michael, and Maria, at 11 Anderson Street.
Her father was an entrepreneur and around 1908 constructed a building at 10 Anderson Street. That building was designed with a store front that would become the Troisi Grocery store. In the back, upstairs and downstairs were living quarters.
Lena and James would have five children - Michael in 1921, Mildred in 1925, James in 1930, Phyllis in 1932, and Anthony in 1934. They would live in the back of the store (later a tavern) at 10 Anderson Street.
James says about his mother Lena, “mom had a profound influence on all of us. She instilled in us that you had to serve the community. If you live in town, you have to make the town better.”
When prohibition was repealed in December of 1933, Michael Troisi thought that it was time to convert the grocery store to a tavern – and that his son-in-law James Sr. and his daughter Lena would own the tavern. After bureaucratic delays and interior construction, the tavern, initially named the Anderson Tavern, opened in 1935.
Over the years mom, dad, and all the brothers worked at the tavern. It would be renamed DeCicco’s Tavern around the late 1950s.
After graduating from Somerville High School in 1940, Michael joined the Navy. He would be stationed at a Navy base in Hawaii that was at the time relatively unknown – Pearl Harbor. On a Sunday afternoon, December 7th 1941, the DeCicco family was sitting home by the radio when they heard a special news bulletin that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. James and Anthony both recall that their mother was crying and that their dad was trying to calm her down.
Not only were the Americans unprepared for battle, they were unprepared administratively as days later the DeCiccos received an inaccurate telegram stating that Michael was “Missing in Action.” In a battle like that a MIA telegram probably meant the worst possible news. Michael had been injured when a torpedo hit his ship - and he was in the hospital. It would be around a week later that the DeCiccos learned Michael’s true status.
After recovering from his injuries, and receiving a Purple Heart, Michael returned to duty aboard a repaired USS Helena. But at sea the ship was sunk by a torpedo. Many of his shipmates were killed and Michael was stranded on a life raft for several hours.
Reassigned to the USS Houston - in the battle of the Java Sea his ship was heavily damaged resulting in a large loss of life. Michael saw many additional battles at sea including Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, Iwo Jima, and the Coral Sea.
Michael married Michelina Siracusa in 1955. As an honor to his military career Michael served as the Grand Marshal of the Basilone Parade in 2003.
After graduating from Somerville High School in 1947 he went on to graduate from Seton Hall in 1952. Upon graduation, he joined the Marines - serving full time from 1952-1956. He continued in the reserves for 27 additional years – rising to the level of Colonel.
He married Shirley Desiato in 1953.
In 1957, he began his career in education as a 6th grade teacher at the Washington School in Raritan. In 1959, he moved to the newly opened Bridgewater/Raritan High School on Garretson Road as a Phys-Ed/Health teacher and boy’s track coach. Under his leadership the track team earned the first trophy in the school’s history.
In 1973, James Decicco played a big role in the implementation of Title IX which was “cultural shock” to high school sports as it gave girls’ sports equal funding to boys’ sports as well as equal access to facilities. As he along with others ensured that it was a smooth transition.
James served two terms on the Raritan Boro Council, the Planning Board for eighteen years, and the Basilone Parade Committee for several years.
An excellent athlete at Somerville High School, he graduated in 1953. He joined the Marines in 1955, serving full time for nine years. He married Pat Wanaiz in 1961. When he got out of the Marines in 1964, he took over ownership and operation of the family tavern.
In 1983, Anthony was dissatisfied with some of the issues in Raritan. Thus, he decided to run for mayor. He won - and took office in January of 1984. During his tenure Raritan passed a “no cursing in public” law which brought the town to national attention. Anthony appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Phil Donahue Show, and the Today Show. He says he received countless letters of support for the law.
And about Raritan, he says it was a great town to grow up in. Jobs as a youth included being a paperboy and working for Troisi’s Bakery making home deliveries.
For one year Anthony was president of the NJ Council of Mayors. After being mayor, he served on the Somerset County Board of Elections for twenty-four years.
In 2000, he was the Grand Marshal of the Basilone Parade.
DeCicco’s Tavern, the last of Raritan’s original local taverns, closed in 2018. Anthony lives across the street from the old tavern. His wife Pat passed away in 2024.
James lives on Long Beach Island. He and his wife had seven children and have been married for 72 years. He is active at the age of 95 - plays golf and has shot 18 holes with a score less than his age – a rare feat in golf.
Michael passed away in 2019.
In 1998, a new street in Raritan - DeCicco Drive – was named in honor of James DeCicco. But that street no doubt serves as a reminder of all the contributions the DeCicco brothers have made to Raritan.