Eustace (“Gus”) Anselmi - industry leader in the building of roads, highways, and bridges and pillar of the Catholic Church – died on Thursday, May 16th in Livingston, New Jersey with his family at his side. He was 86.
Born on June 11, 1932 to Carmela and Dominick Anselmi, both of whom had emigrated from Southern Italy, Anselmi was the older brother and role model to his siblings Antoinette, Thomas, and Angela. Growing up in a loving home in Maplewood, New Jersey, he attended and was a graduate of St. Joseph grammar school, Columbia High School, and Seton Hall University, where he studied mathematics and philosophy. After his last college exam in 1954, he walked home with tears of joy in his eyes, forever thereafter a businessman and philosopher.
Anselmi worked with his father and uncle to start Anselmi and DeCicco, a small construction company specializing in sidewalks and driveways. On a brilliant Sunday in 1954, he met the love of his life, Ann, on the beach in Asbury Park. They were married in 1956, and gave birth to Gregory in 1958, Gina in 1960 and Andrew in 1965.
With his brother Tom joining him as a partner and always at his side, the two inspired a company of bold innovators and achievers, always known for their honesty and integrity. A champion of entrepreneurship and a devout Catholic, he was fond of saying “Woe to the man who wakes in the morning knowing how much money he will make by day’s end.” In the same breath, he would attribute all of his successes to “the Grace of God.” His and his company’s imprint was left on infrastructure projects such as the development of Liberty State Park, Liberty Science Center, the renovation of Newark Airport International Airport, the “Spaghetti Bowl” interchange of Routes 46, 23 and 80 in Wayne, New Jersey, and multiple other highways and bridges in the Tri-State area that brought people together. In his later years, he, his brother and their families owned and ran a cattle ranch in Costa Rica, which became a rich source of togetherness and adventure.
His community and church involvement were profound: member of the President’s Advisory Committee at Seton Hall; Trustee of Caldwell College; Trustee of Delbarton School; Trustee of St. Philomena’s Church; Scoutmaster for Troop 16 in Livingston; and a member of the Livingston Planning Board, where he was affectionately known as “Let ‘Em Build Gus.” He also served on the Board of Directors of the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association, as a Trustee of CIAP of New Jersey, a board member of Summit Bancorp, and board member of Viannini, S.p.A. His honors and awards are too numerous to list.
A crowning moment in Anselmi’s journey took place in 2016, when he aided the Vatican during the Year of Mercy. He sponsored a concert for the homeless at St. Peter’s Square, led by legendary international composer Ennio Morricone, where he enjoyed live renditions from “The Mission,” which he blasted regularly from his kitchen stereo. In his private audience with the Holy Father, this titan to so many uttered humbly “I love you.”
In addition to his wife, Ann, Anselmi is survived by his son Gregory and his wife Rosann, daughter Gina and her husband Mark, son Andrew and his wife Sole, grandchildren Eustace Jeffrey and his wife Meagan, Victoria, Michael and his fiancé Shan Shan, Samantha, Gabrielle, Luke, Nicholas and Alexandra. He is also survived by his siblings Antoinette and her husband Pasquale, Thomas and his wife Linda, and Angela and her husband Michael, and numerous nieces and nephews. His wake will be held from 2 pm-8 pm on Sunday, May 19th at Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, 145 E. Mount Pleasant Avenue in Livingston, NJ. The funeral will be on Monday, May 20th at 10 am at St. Philomena’s Church, 386 South Livingston Avenue in Livingston, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Seton Hall University Boot Camp or St. Philomena’s Church.
Every year at his company’s Christmas party, Gus was overcome with emotion as he played for everyone “Caro Gesù Bambino (Dear Baby Jesus),” a song about an impoverished little boy on Christmas Eve. With his own childhood memories moving him and his voice quaking, he would translate the Italian lyrics for the crowd: “You know my daddy is poor and I don’t have toys . . . even without toys, please come Baby Jesus.” Today, that little boy has received his gift.
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