‘Patron saint’ of Morristown lives on via April 26 golf outing for Neighborhood House

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By Bill Swayze

Golfers will tee off Tuesday, April 26, at the Black Bear Golf Course in Franklin N.J. to raise money for the Morristown Neighborhood House thanks to an annual outing held in the name of a “patron saint” of Morristown.

The Ralph Maietta Golf Outing
, now in its 23rd year, will start with a breakfast at 8 a.m. More than 100 golfers are expected to play, said Micheal Andrisano, a former Morristown councilman who chairs the organization that runs the outing.

The event in the past has raised funds for the town’s recreation program. This year, however, the event will provide a much-needed cash infusion to the Morristown Neighborhood House’s summer camp programs.

“And this keeps the memory of Ralph Maietta alive,” Andrisano said. “Ralph Maietta was a fixture at the Morristown Neighborhood House, always looking out for the kids, doing what he could to keep them off the streets and of trouble. You don’t find a lot of guys like him. He worked at the neighborhood house for years and was big into boxing and basketball, opening the place up on the weekends just by himself so the kids had somewhere to go.”

Thomas Alexander, the town’s director of human services and a longtime golf outing promoter, said, “It would be hard to find a lifelong Morristown resident whose life wasn’t touched by Ralph Maietta. He helped a lot of people. He was a giant in the Morristown community. You didn’t just know him. He became family.”

Morristown Neighborhood House Executive Director David Walker said the financial boost is extremely appreciated. “We are very excited to be a part of the Ralph Maietta Annual Golf Outing.  I’ve have been Neighborhood House’s Director for over eight years.  Since, I first started, I’ve heard remarkable stores about Maietta’s commitment to Neighborhood House’s kids.  He is definitely a local legend and we are proud to help continue his legacy.”

Since 1898, the Morristown Neighborhood House has been helping new immigrants and families who are confronting economic challenges with a number of  preschool, after-school, educational, arts, recreational, human services and job assistance programs in Morristown, Dover, Randolph, Denville and the Frelinghuysen Middle School.

For more information, call 973-538-1229 x 20 or email: stapletm@neighborhood-house.org.

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