COUNCIL INFORMATION
History of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Council #5482
On August 22, 1963, Brothers John E. Conner and Vincent A. DelGrosso were approached by the District Deputy, Caesar A. DeAngelis, and asked to organize a Council in the St. John's, Clinton, and St. Mary's, Piscataway areas. The pastors of the parishes were contacted and their approval for a Council was acquired.
Joe Conner was selected by the District Deputy as Organizing Chairman and Robert L. Brown volunteered for Organizing Secretary. The Committee was informed that another group was trying to organize a new Council in the St. Mary Star of the Sea, Indian Head-Bryan's Road area. They were contacted and a meeting of the Organizing Committees was held at Bryan's Road. It was decided that the two groups should unite and form one strong Council instead of two Councils in such a close area. Joe Conner and Clay McNerney were selected as joint Organizing Chairmen with Bob Brown still as Organizing Secretary.
Literature was distributed at the churches, announcements were made in the parish bulletins and the first organizational meeting was held at St. Mary's Hall, Piscataway on October 28, 1963.
The last organizational meeting was held at St. Mary's Hall, Piscataway on November 18, 1963. Twenty-three Insurance and forty Associate members had been obtained. Ave Maria was selected for the Council name. Temporary Officers were elected and at our institution, the entire slate was elected as permanent Officers.
The Council was officially instituted on Monday, December 2, 1963, by Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus, at St. Mary's Hall, Piscataway. The name of the Council was changed to John Fitzgerald Kennedy in honor of the late President of the United States. The number given to the Council was 5482.
Our Council was the First In The Nation to be Charted in the name of our Thirty Fifth President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. President John F. Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917. He was the youngest man ever elected President and the youngest to die in office on November 22, 1963. President Kennedy became a member of the Knights of Columbus on March 17, 1946. A copy of his application is on display in the Council Hall. His application shows his occupation as "Correspondent" working for "INS". Question 10 asked the applicant, "Do you plan to stay in your present occupation", President Kennedy replied "Not Sure."