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While on campus, Kaltenbacher spent time with seniors Grace Thompson ’13, Nate Feinberg ’13 and Christian Pinto ’13. Christian explained how one of the first gatherings in Kaltenbacher Hall was the IB Extended Essay evenings when more than 120 students, parents and faculty came together to hear students present and defend research on a chosen topic. “He seemed to be genuinely excited about how the room was being used,” Grace said. “We laughed with him about how hard it is to pronounce the name right, but it was fun to show off the room and to say ‘thanks’ to the person who helped make it happen.”
retired after selling the company, Kaltenbacher remains active as a developer and investor in a range of real estate ventures including shopping malls, senior housing, hotel-condominium projects and land development. From 1985 to 1993, he was Commissioner of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and served as that organization’s Chairman from 1985 to 1990. Previously, Kaltenbacher served in the New Jersey General Assembly and as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee. Honored by numerous organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Charities and the March of Dimes, Kaltenbacher received the Newark Academy Alumni Achievement Award in 1987. He and his wife, Unni, now reside in Sarasota, Florida and Martha’s Vineyard. His “WE’RE HOPING THE NAME KALTENBACHER HALL SOON BECOMES A REGULAR PART OF THE NA VERNACULAR” daughters, Dr. Laura Ross and Gail Kurz, live in New York and New Vernon, New Jersey respectively, and he has five grandchildren, ranging in age from 10 to 16.
Kaltenbacher enjoyed the visit which included joking, as he said hello to Head of School Don Austin, that “I’m finally not shaking when I meet with the Headmaster.” As a Newark Academy student, Kaltenbacher’s early years at NA were notable for him earning both high honor roll and disciplinary probation. He recalled that Headmaster Donald Miller sent his beleaguered parents a letter saying that “Phil has to decide whether to be a leader or a ringleader.” Choosing the former option, he went on to be elected Class President and was tabbed by his class as Most Well-Rounded – recognizing him for his scholarship, athletic accomplishments and role in student leadership. Kaltenbacher went on to attend Yale College and Yale Law School before launching a successful career in business and public service. He served as Chairman and CEO of Seton Company, a major supplier to the auto industry. Recently
“Newark Academy’s principles – excellence, hard work, honor, decency, fair play, love of country, duty to serve and to give back – have been shared with students through the years and continue to be at the core of the Newark Academy experience,” Kaltenbacher said. “We were taught to ‘get in the thick of it’ – and to help make things happen.” In the coming days, a plaque will be placed near the entrance to the state-of-the-art multi-purpose room which will read:
Kaltenbacher Hall in memory of Joseph C. Kaltenbacher ’24 a gift from his son Philip ’55 and the Kaltenbacher Family