Wall of Fame, Belleville N.J.

The Belleville Board of Education commissioned the inauguration of a Wall of Recognition for the high school to recognize outstanding graduates.

These graduates have gone on to make significant and lasting contributions in their chosen professions.

The board has established a committee in accordance with its by-laws to consider all nominations for acceptance to the Wall of Recognition.

The following Belleville High School graduates - properly and formally submitted to the aforementioned committee were recently inducted into the Belleville High School Wall of Recognition.

Leonard D. Ronco

Honorable Leonard D. Ronco, Superior Court Judge, a Belleville High School graduate of the Class of 1943.

Judge Ronco entered the United States Navy during World War II, serving as a turret gunner aboard the USS Quincy, a heavy cruiser deployed in both the European and Pacific theaters; and,

Ronco later served in private and public practice as an attorney in the positions of referee of Juvenile Conference Committee of Belleville, state assemblyman from Essex County, secretary to the Essex County Superintendent of Elections, associate counsel of the Essex County Welfare Board, assistant Essex County prosecutor, the first state deputy public defender in charge of the Essex County Region, chief trial attorney for the prosecutor's office, acting Essex County prosecutor, and as a Superior Court judge; and,

Ronco served as the director of the State Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the director of the Governor's Office of Casino Policy, both appointments made by New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne; and,

Ronco holds the distinction of having served in all three branches of the state government in New Jersey as a legislator, executive and jurist.

Dr. Felice Salerno

Dr. Felice Salerno, a Belleville High School graduate of the Class of 1951.

Salerno has achieved remarkable success in his chosen field of vascular surgery, and has worked at such prestigious institutions in Texas as Baylor University Medical Center, Temple Veterans Administration Center, and the US Darnell Army Hospital; and in New Jersey at Mountainside Hospital and Hunterdon Medical Center.

He has held such distinguished positions as staff general and vascular surgeon, chief of general surgery and director of residency training, chairman of the Department of Surgery, president of the medical staff, and president of the specialty staff among many others, and has published numerous papers on surgery and medicine in a variety of medical journals; and,

Salerno's academic appointments include clinical assistant professor of surgery at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick; and,

Salerno's longstanding commitment and service to our community has been recognized with many awards, including his selection as one of the top surgeons in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly Magazine.

Warren Kimble

Warren Kimble, a Belleville High School graduate of the Class of 1953.

Kimble has become one of America's best-loved contemporary folk artists who has combined his love of Americana, antiques and collectibles, architecture, and painting to create an accessible, universally appealing new style of American folk art.

The popularity of Kimble's contemporary folk art images has helped position him as one of the country's most successful home -- furnishings designers, with more than 45 licensing partners that generate more than $100 million in yearly retail sales.

Kimble's outstanding original paintings, which include both fine art and folk art works, have been the subject of one-person gallery shows in New York, Boston, and Syracuse, as well as in towns throughout Vermont; and,

His honors and awards include Syracuse University's 2002 George Arents Pioneer Medal, the university's highest alumni honor, and an honorary doctor of fine arts degree from Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vt., the selection of his work for "The Original Art 2001" by the Society of Illustrators Museum in New York, and the recognition of his work for excellence by numerous marketing and trade organizations.

Arthur F. Fost

Dr. Arthur F. Fost, a Belleville High School graduate of the Class of 1954.

Fost started the first allergy training program in New Jersey, continues to be active in research and testing, and has published papers in the medical journals on asthma and allergies.

He has been repeatedly cited in New York Magazine and New Jersey Magazine as "Best Doctors in the New York City Area" and "Best Doctors in New Jersey" for his work in allergy.

Fost has spent a lifetime of volunteerism to help the less fortunate in countries such as Ethiopia, Rwanda, Guatemala, El Salvador and the Middle East; and,

His longstanding commitment and service to our community has been recognized with many awards, including a State of New Jersey Joint Legislative Resolution, and the New Jersey Leadership Volunteer Award.

Also inducted at the inaugural ceremony of the Wall of Recognition were Dr. Edward Aulisi, Dr. Michael Ippolito, Dr. James Orsini, Dr. Lori Ippolito.

Sources: Belleville Times, Oct. 7, 2004