Blanquita Valenti Explained

Blanquita Valenti
Birth Date:December 28, 1933
Birth Place:Santurce, Puerto Rico
Death Place:New Brunswick, New Jersey
Nationality:American
Occupation:Politician

Blanquita Bird Valenti (December 28, 1933 – March 9, 2021) was an American politician from New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Biography

Bird graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Connecticut and Rosemont College, Pennsylvania.[1] In 1956, she married Thomas Valenti.[2] Mrs. Valenti also earned a master's degree in teaching from Seton Hall University, and in Spanish and Latin American literature from Rutgers University. In 1971, she was appointed to the New Brunswick Board of Education, the first Latina in the state to serve in such a role.[3]

In 1990, she was appointed to the New Brunswick City Council to fill a vacancy, subsequently being re-elected five times, including holding the office of Council President and vice-president.[4] In 2004, Valenti was elected to the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders (now Commissioners), serving five terms until her retirement in 2019.

She was honored for her works at her 15th anniversary.[5] Valenti was the first Latina to serve in those two positions.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] After announcing her retirement,[11] she retired in 2019.[12]

Valenti died on March 9, 2021, at age 87. Politicians from the senate expressed their condolences. She was buried at St. Peter's Cemetery in New Brunswick.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

On September 8, a school was opened for students named after Blanquita in New Brunswick, New Jersey possessing the mascot of a Blue jay[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 12 Aug 1956. Valenti-Bird Wedding Held. 2021-03-26. The Central New Jersey Home News. en. newspapers.com.
  2. News: 1956-08-08. BLANQUITA BIRD TO WED; She Will Be Married Saturday to Carl Thomas Valenti. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-03-26. 0362-4331.
  3. Book: Listokin. David. New Brunswick, New Jersey: The Decline and Revitalization of Urban America. Berkhout. Dorothea. Hughes. James W.. Rutgers University Press. 2016. 978-0-8135-7558-2. 60. en.
  4. Web site: March 11, 2021. City Remembers Longtime Public Servant Blanquita Valenti. live. 2021-03-26. www.cityofnewbrunswick.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20210311135518/https://www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/news_detail_T10_R817.php . March 11, 2021 .
  5. Web site: Freeholder Valenti Honored For Decades of Public Service. TAPinto.
  6. Web site: Blanquita Valenti, trailblazing Middlesex freeholder, dies at 87. March 10, 2021. New Jersey Globe.
  7. Web site: Blanquita Valenti, Trailblazing New Brunswick, Middlesex County Politician, Dead at 87. TAPinto.
  8. Web site: Blanquita Valenti through the years: Trailblazing politician left indelible mark. www.mycentraljersey.com.
  9. Web site: Blanquita Valenti, trailblazing Latina politician in Middlesex County, dies at 87. Suzanne. Russell. MyCentralJersey.com.
  10. Web site: PRAB Mourns the Loss of our founder, Blanquita B. Valenti – PRAB.
  11. Web site: Middlesex County Freeholder Valenti to retire at end of term. Courier News and Home News Tribune.
  12. Web site: Freeholder Blanquita B. Valenti Announces Intention to Retire at End of Term. www.middlesexcountynj.gov.
  13. Web site: Blanquita Valenti, trailblazing Latina politician in Middlesex County, dies at 87. MyCentralJersey.com.
  14. Web site: Lopez Statement on the Passing of Middlesex County Freeholder Blanquita Valenti. Insider NJ. March 10, 2021 .
  15. Web site: Middlesex County mourns loss of Freeholder Valenti, a trailblazer for Latinx in politics. Jennifer. Amato. Managing. Editor. March 10, 2021.
  16. Web site: Blanquita Valenti, trailblazing Middlesex freeholder, dies at 87 - Opera News. www.dailyadvent.com.
  17. Web site: Menendez Statement on the Passing of Former Middlesex Freeholder Blanquita Valenti | U.S. Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey. www.menendez.senate.gov.
  18. Web site: Welcome to City of New Brunswick, New Jersey . 2024-02-12 . www.cityofnewbrunswick.org.

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