Brick Township, NJ - The Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee is proud to announce that we have chosen Dr. Cav. Gilda Rorro Baldassari to be Grand Marshal for the 31st Annual Celebration. Each year the selection is difficult because there are several worthy individuals nominated and reviewed by the search committee. After carefully reviewing each of them, the search committee has chosen Gilda Rorro Baldassari. This year’s Columbus Day Parade will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2022. The three-day Italian Festival begins on Friday, October 7, 2022.

"Each year we are faced with the difficult task of selecting a person from the many deserving candidates to serve as the ceremonial leader of our Parade and Italian Festival," said screening committee member John Giavatto. "After thoroughly reviewing and considering all the candidates this year, the screening committee felt that although several terrific nominations were submitted, Dr. Cav. Gilda Rorro Baldassari should serve as our Grand Marshal. Her community involvement in education and especially her efforts on behalf of Italian Heritage and Culture contributed to our decision." Giavatto added.

Dr. Cav. Gilda Rorro Baldassari was born in Philadelphia, PA, on March 15, 1938. Along with her husband Dr. Louis M. Rorro she has two children Michael and Mary. Her academic background includes a B.A. from Beaver College which is now known as Arcadia University, University of Mexico, (24 credits), Trenton State College (College of New Jersey), and Ed.D., Rutgers University. She was the Director of the New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of Equal Educational Opportunity (Civil Rights Office), and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources for the Trenton Board of Education.

Gilda, being proud of her Italian heritage and culture, served as Chairperson of The New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission (NJIHC). Since 2003, she has spearheaded its University of Italian Heritage curriculum. For 10 years she served as the Honorary Vice Consul for Italy, in Trenton, and was subsequently appointed Corrispondente Consolare (Consular Correspondent) for an additional 13 years. Currently, she has been appointed to the prestigious New Jersey Council of Education, and the national Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations in the United States. Dr. Rorro has always been in the forefront to preserve and promote issues of importance to Italians.

For all her efforts she has received three lifetime achievement awards for volunteerism and civil rights leadership including a Jefferson Award from the United States Senate, the Citizen of the Year from the Trent Athletic Association in Trenton, Equity Leader of the Year from the New Jersey Department of Education and the Golden Disc 50 Year Achievement Award from Arcadia University. She was inducted into the New Jersey Equity Hall of Fame. Additionally, Gilda was Inducted into the Italian American National Hall of Fame. In May, she will receive the international Columbus Education Award, directly from Italy.

"Gilda stood out among this year’s nominees because of her commitment to all that is Italian" said screening committee member Luigi Luongo. "We are confident that this extraordinary individual will uphold the fine tradition established by her predecessors. We are looking forward to having Gilda Rorro Baldassari lead our Thirty-first annual celebration as Grand Marshal during this year’s celebration." Luongo added.

Parade Chairman Michael Blandina noted that over the years we have had several distinguished individuals serve as Grand Marshal. We believe that Dr. Cav. Gilda Rorro Baldassari will also fill those shoes and will continue to make us proud of our Italian Heritage and Culture.

Please join us as we celebrate the 31st Annual Parade and Festival, the past and future successes of the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival. We will also celebrate Gilda Rorro Baldasari’s selection as our 2022 Grand Marshal at our Annual Grand Marshal Dinner Dance. This special event will take place on Thursday August 18, 2022 at the Atlantis Ballroom, located at the Days Hotel in Toms River, New Jersey beginning at 6:30 pm. To commemorate the Dinner Dance and the selection of Dr. Cav. Gilda Rorro Baldassari as Grand Marshal, we will publish a souvenir ad journal that will be distributed at our annual dinner dance and other events leading up to the parade. We invite you to take this opportunity to advertise your business, profession or add your congratulatory message to Gilda, in the journal. The Ad and Dinner Dance Sponsorship deadline is Tuesday May 31, 2022

Anyone interested in attending the dinner dance, placing an ad in the ad journal, sponsoring the event, joining the Parade Committee, or wishing any other information regarding this year’s Parade and Italian Festival and accompanying events may contact Michael at 732 477-6507 or e-mail the committee at info@columbusnj.org.