Oakland’s Frank Leone Post Office Act Passes House

WASHINGTON — Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan “Frank Leone Post Office Act” to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 332 Ramapo Valley Road in Oakland, New Jersey, as the “Frank Leone Post Office.”

Gottheimer had announced the bill in July at the Oakland Senior Center alongside Frank’s widow Ellen, their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, veterans from the American Legion Post 369 and across Bergen County, Oakland Mayor Linda Schwager and members of the Oakland Council, current Oakland Postmaster Stacy Valerius, former Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire, former Oakland Chamber of Commerce President Charlie Wright, and local first responders.

Frank served our nation in the Navy during World War II. He served as a flight deck crewman aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge—a ship Frank’s father helped build. After returning, Frank moved to Oakland with his wife Ellen, where, in 1967, he was formally appointed Postmaster of the Oakland Post Office by President Lyndon B. Johnson. He was the last presidentially appointed Postmaster in New Jersey.

Frank served as Postmaster for 48 years, during which time he also served as the President of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, an active member of the American Legion Post 369 and the Franklin Lakes VFW, Oakland’s Fire Chief, Director of Emergency Management, and Civil Defense Defender, a Deacon at the Ramapo Valley Baptist Church, and the National Vice President of the National Association of Postmasters.

The bill is the result of nearly four years of hard work by Frank’s family, friends, former colleagues, and local elected officials. The bill is cosponsored by the New Jersey Delegation — Representatives Norcross, LoBiondo, MacArthur, Smith, Pallone, Lance, Sires, Pascrell, Payne, Frelinghuysen, and Watson Coleman.

“To me, there is no commitment more sacred than the one to those who have bravely served our nation. Today marked a major step forward in honoring of one of these brave veterans, longtime Oakland resident, Postmaster, and Fire Chief Frank Leone,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I’m proud to celebrate and recognize Frank’s life. North Jersey veterans deserve any assistance they need after valiantly serving their country. The last thing these veterans should have to face is red tape and bureaucratic roadblocks, so I want any North Jersey veteran, first responder, or active service member to contact my office. That’s why I’m here.”

“I have the joy of being Frank’s wife for 60 years. Truth be told, his funeral was on our 60th wedding anniversary,” said Ellen Leone at the bill announcement. “I cannot think of any bigger honor for Frank than to have his name mentioned with Oakland in the same breath.”

A one pager on Gottheimer’s legislation can be found HERE.

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