This is a vintage picture of late Bayonne resident Joseph San Philip.  Mr. San Philip is shown at the right distributing bags of food for holiday dinners with his friend Nunzio Russo helping at the left.  Mr. San Philip was the father of Tony San Philip and Marie San Philip-Caci, who donated a copy of the original picture to the Bayonne Historical Society.

 

During World War II, since many families were still in need after the Depression, Joseph San Philip would load a flat bed truck with holiday food and have people come to it the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas to distribute the food to anyone who couldn’t afford a holiday meal on their own.  He did this with his own money in the belief that no one should go hungry for a holiday. 

 

San Philip always helped people.  His daughter Marie remembers from childhood memories that people would come to her father for help at all hours of the day and night.

 

San Philip worked for the city of Bayonne as the city mechanic for 35 years.  He was also a Democratic ward leader for 35 years.  His many good deeds were often reported in the Bayonne Times.  He passed away at age 57 on October 9, 1963, but even today people remember his good deeds.

 

Do you have a picture of someone from your family who did a good deed?  If so, the Bayonne Historical Society would be most happy to make a copy of that picture, and preserve it so that future generations of Bayonne will remember the good things for which we can all be thankful!    Please contact the Bayonne Historical Society via Lee Fahley at 201-436-5978 or the society Web site: www.bayonnenj.org/historical, and have a Happy Holiday!