Judge Joseph J. Salerno Respect for Law Award OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL
Bill Bate, the Passaic County Surrogate, has been involved with law and public service for most all of his adult life. After receiving his degree from the Georgetown Law Center, Bate burst into public service after placing first in the 1966 Clifton City Council election. Although he was snubbed by his peers for the Mayor’s position which traditionally goes to the highest vote getter, Bate would not be deterred. By 1969, Bate won a seat as a Passaic County Freeholder. He later served one term as a New Jersey State Senator and four terms as a NJ Assemblyman. Then, in 1982, Bate was elected to the position of Passaic County Surrogate. Now in his 36th year, he is the longest tenured of any Passaic County elected official. For his life long dedication to the law and public service, Bill Bate has been selected as the recipient of the 2007 Judge Joseph J. Salerno Respect for Law Award. Born in 1934, Bate is a lifetime Clifton resident and the eldest of five siblings. He attended School 1 and spent his freshman year at CHS before transferring to St. Peter’s
William Bate
Prep in Jersey City. After graduating second in his class, Bate earned a full academic scholarship to St. Peter’s College, where he went on to earn the “Most Noble Order of the Peacock,” a distinction earned by 10 graduating seniors with the highest GPA (Bate was No. 4). His outstanding efforts earned him a scholarship to the prestigious Georgetown Law Center. Bate’s interest in public service was sparked by his maternal grandfather, George S. King, who was active in Passaic politics. Following graduation, Bate stayed in Washington to work as an aide to Congressman (later Superior Court Judge) Charles S. Joelson. It was around this time that Bate met his future wife, the former Clara Estrela of Santo Domingo.
Today, as the County Surrogate, Bate’s role is to admit wills to probate, which means the will is proved to have been executed in the manner required by law. The surrogate is also used when a person dies without a will; the surrogate decides who will administer and oversee the estate. The word surrogate means “one who speaks for another.” “I love my job,” says Bate, a longtime fixture at events and social functions across Passaic County. “I love helping people during times of need, especially after a loss of a loved one. I also have a marvelous staff that does a wonderful job helping others.” Still, despite his gregarious nature, he was not so keen on accepting this year’s award. “To tell you the truth, I felt a little funny at first saying yes, but with Clara’s prodding, I did accept this honor,” said Bate. “It’s nice to be recognized in my role as an attorney. I’ve been one for 49 years and to receive this is humbling.” Bate said the most endearing aspect of the award is who it is named for. “While he was only eight years older than me, Judge Salerno was a role model to me in many ways. I especially admired him as a father and as a husband. It is indeed a great honor.”
Many remember the late Joseph James Salerno, at left, as the honorable Passaic County Superior Court Judge, a position held until his death in 1992. But to Cliftonites, Judge Salerno, a longtime Optimist, was also respected for his contributions to his hometown. To commemorate his association with Clifton, Judge Salerno’s name will forever be associated with the Clifton Optimist Club’s Respect For Law Award. The Clifton Optimist Club’s Community Service Award is a fitting tribute to the late Clifton Mayor and longtime Optimist Stanley Zwier, at right, because Zwier was involved in many community events, even up until his death in 1999. March 2007 • Clifton Merchant
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