NJSBF.org - The First Two Recipients of the Medal of Honor

The First Two Recipients of the Medal of Honor

The First Medal of Honor Winners: 1988

Matthias D. Dileo, Esq. spent 54 years with the firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.,Woodbridge. After his retirement in 2007 at the age of 80, he remained of counsel to the firm until his death the following year, while attending the annual meeting and convention of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Post-retirement, he also served as a consultant for the Hess Corporation.

He loved the practice of law and was active throughout his career in numerous professional organizations. He served as President of the Middlesex County Bar from 1978 to 1979; President of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF) from 1991 to 1992; and Chairman of NJSBF from 1992 to 1994.

He received the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award in 1999, and served as a member of the NJ Supreme Court Ethics Finance Committee, Trustee of the NJ Supreme Courts Lawyers' Assistance Program, Delegate to the American Bar Association in 1967 and Fellow of the American Bar Association. In 2001 he received the Daniel J. O'Hern Professionalism Award. Of all of his accomplishments, he most cherished the privilege of mentoring young attorneys regarding professional ethics.

Vincent J. Apruzzese, Esq., founder of and currently of counsel to the law firm of Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro & Murphy, P.C., Warren, is a former Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association (ABA). He is a member of the United States Chamber of Commerce Labor Committee and has been a principal witness for the Chamber before committees of Congress.

His longtime dedication to the law is reflected in his active participation over the years in many professional legal organizations. He is a former President of the New Jersey State Bar Association and past Chair of its Labor Law Section; a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Inc.; Past President of the New Jersey State Bar Association; Past Chair, ABA Labor & Employment Law Section; member of the ABA Board of Governors and former Delegate to ABA House of Delegates; member of the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Advisory Board, American College of Trial Lawyers, American Bar Foundation and the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

He was the driving force behind the establishing a permanent home for the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick and created NJSBF's award-winning Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition, named in his honor in recognition of his years of service to the foundation.

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Mark Your Calendars for the
2016 Medal of Honor Awards Dinner Reception
Honoring the Hon. Peter G. Verniero (ret.) and Wayne J. Positan, Esq.
September 12, 2016 6 p.m.
The Palace at Somerset Park
Somerset, NJ

For reservation details, sponsorship information, or to send a congratulatory message to the honorees, contact Cynthia Pellegrino at cpellegrino@njsbf.org or 732-937-7507.