Bridge Dedicated to Food Circus’ Azzolina

HIGHLANDS, N.J. — A new bridge here is scheduled to be dedicated to the memory of food-retailing veteran Joseph Azzolina Sr., who died in 2010.

Azzolina, the former founder and chief executive officer of Food Circus Supermarkets, an operator of Foodtown stores in New Jersey, was a U.S. Navy veteran who was later active in state government. He also was on the board of Food Marketing Institute for 17 years.

Azzolina grew up in Highlands, where his family had their first food store. In addition to serving as a state senator and assemblyman, in 1980 he was named chairman of the state commission that succeeded in obtaining the battleship USS New Jersey from the Navy as a memorial and museum.

“We are very excited to pay tribute to my father with the naming of this magnificent bridge in his honor,” said Joseph Azzolina Jr. in a statement. “It is most fitting as he lifeguarded at the beach under the bridge, helped build Fort Hancock, and learned the value of hard work from his growing up at their family grocery store. Captain Joe loved the Bayshore and the people in the community.”

The new, $138 million Highlands Bridge is to be renamed the Capt. Joseph Azzolina Memorial Bridge in a ceremony on Wednesday.