Jose R. Sabater

Jose Sabater, a visionary leader of unwavering dedication, departed this world on August 15, 2023, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Born in Bayamo, Cuba, on March 14, 1960, Jose embarked on a life journey characterized by significant achievements and profound connections that left an indelible mark on many lives.

In 1971, Jose and his family immigrated to Elizabeth, NJ. Throughout his adulthood, he dedicated his career to the people within the state in which he was raised. He started his career at the Puerto Rican Congress in Trenton, later joining La Casa de Don Pedro in Newark where he worked with seniors, youth, and families, improving their quality of life.

He loved the city that nurtured him, Elizabeth.

Jose's transformative impact on his community was epitomized when he joined the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth (HACE) as the Director of Redevelopment in 1997. During his 26-year tenure, he fueled the reimagining of neighborhoods, introducing energy-efficient, affordable housing units that reshaped lives.

His dedication yielded remarkable achievements, most notably the realization of the HOPE VI Elizabethport Neighborhood Redevelopment Program which included not only affordable housing, but social services and employment training for the residents of the neighborhood. A new community center and a senior center were added to the neighborhood for the enjoyment of the community. The J. Christian Bollwage E’port Commons senior housing project was a mixed use building certified as a LEED Gold building – a prestigious honor. Because of his visionary leadership, not only were over 700 housing units constructed, but as a great public servant dealmaker, he raised over $130 million dollars for the Elizabeth Housing Authority to implement many redevelopment projects for low-income families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. He also passionately consulted the East Orange Housing Authority on a $60 million project that helped create 322 housing units.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jose's sphere of influence extended to the academic and social justice domain. While in High School, Jose joined Abdala, a national Cuban student movement advocating for the freedom of Cuba from the dictatorship of Castro’s regime, where he was also exposed at a young age to the thinking of scholars, politicians, and artists. It was a transformative experience that exposed him to history and politics and influenced his sense of justice. He organized events to celebrate Cuban history at Jefferson High School, published a student newspaper called Señal with his brother, participated in demonstrations, regularly did chores like stuffing envelopes and putting labels in newspapers, and created lifelong friendships.

During his Rutgers University years, (graduated in 1981) he stood as a founding father and inaugural president of the Lambda Sigma Upsilon fraternity. His legacy there is a beacon of empowerment and brotherhood – principles that continue to resonate as the fraternity now thrives with chapters across the nation. This testament of success mirrors his profound commitment to enabling the triumphs of others and his unyielding belief in the strength of familial bonds to uplift and elevate.

Outside of work, Jose found enjoyment playing golf, skiing, reading, traveling to NYC, visiting museums, seeing shows, watching baseball (especially the Yankees and the Cuban National Team), debating politics with friends, taking road trips with his LSU brothers, watching his Sunday morning shows with his dog Milo in his lazy chair, eating great meals and simply working on projects around the house. On many evenings, he could be found enjoying a cigar by his fire pit while looking at the stars.

Jose's profound impact extended to his cherished family. He is predeceased by his parents, Edith and Julio Sabater. He shared his life with many nieces, nephews, godchildren, cousins, and extended family including the LSU brotherhood. As a devoted husband to Sonia Sabater, a loving and involved father to daughters Sabrina and Nadine Sabater, and a caring brother to Julio Sabater, he illuminated their lives with his unwavering love and guidance, a light that will forever grace their hearts. He will be missed beyond measure by countless family and friends.

A viewing to celebrate Jose's life will be held at McCracken Funeral Home, 1500 Morris Ave, Union, NJ, on Friday, August 18, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The funeral service will take place on Saturday, August 19, at 10:00 AM at the funeral home.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the Founding Father Jose Sabater Memorial Scholarship Fund. It was Jose's wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to his beloved Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity Inc., of which he was a founding member and first president in 1979. Donations may be mailed to: Lambda Sigma Upsilon, PO Box 91, Franklin Park NJ 08823.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McCrackenFuneralHome.com for the Sabater family.