The Sons of Italy NJ State Emeritus Committee have appointed Sam Fumosa to President Emeritus status. He has been a member of Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), Grand Lodge of New Jersey for 39 years. Throughout his life, Sam has exemplified the qualities of a respected leader and true Italian American.
Sam was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey and is a graduate of Rutgers University in Newark. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and then established and operated Redwood Express, a family-owned business, now owned and operated by his son, Stephen. Sam and his wife, Rita (now deceased) were married for over 66 years. He has three children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He has served as both President and Vice President of the OSIA Grand Lodge of NJ. Additionally, he was Chairman of National Overseers for Garibaldi Meucci Museum, as well as serving as the National OSIA Historian and twice as the National Trustee from New Jersey.
As Chairman of the OSIA National Commission for Social Justice Special Projects Committee, Sam oversaw numerous important projects, including the Congressional Medal of Honor Program, an exhibit of the 25 Italian American recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor; the Holocaust Resource Program, which educates Italian Americans about the role played by Italians in aiding Jewish people during WWII. He was the East Coast Coordinator for the Una Storia Segreta exhibit which encompassed the internment of Italian Americans during World War II.
Sam was the New Jersey State Chairman OSIA for the “Save the Lady Campaign,” which raised funds to refurbish the Statute of Liberty and was appointed by three separate governors to the New Jersey Ethnic Advisory Council, representing the Italian American community of the state. He also established the Rita Fumosa Memorial Scholarship with the Sons of Italy NJ Foundation to honor the memory of his wife.
Among his many honors, Sam is the recipient of the Heritage Community Service Award by the Giblin Association; a Certificate of Honor presented by Governor McGreevey and the Italian Tribune Columbus Community Service award for outstanding contributions to the Italian American Community.
