REMEMBERING BLANQUITA B. VALENTI

PRAB mourns the death of our founder, Blanquita B. Valenti. She passed away on Tuesday March 9, 2021 at the age of 87. Blanquita was a pioneer and overall an amazing individual with a larger than life heart. We at PRAB and the community stand on her shoulders and join her family in their loss.

Blanquita dedication to serving county residents was reflected in her lifetime commitment to education, outreach, and assisting people most in need. A Middlesex County Freeholder from 2005-2020, Blanquita was the longtime chair of the County’s Community Services Committee. As Freeholder, Blanquita provided leadership to a wide range of programs and services for residents across their lifespan, including human and social services, mental health, housing, homelessness, older adults, people with disabilities and veterans’ services. Blanquita was well-known and admired throughout Middlesex County’s social service networks due to her long standing dedication and direct involvement in its work. Her involvement in community affairs spanned nearly 50 years, having served on more than 20 boards of directors and even being a founding member or Chair of many. She was a founder of the Puerto Rican Action Board and a long-time Chair who was always an active supporter.

Blanquita also was a member of the New Brunswick City Council from 1990-2010, serving as both Council President and Vice President. Blanquita received degrees from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania, Seton Hall University in New Jersey and Rutgers University in Middlesex County, where she was elected Phi Sigma Iota National Honor Society recipient. A professor by trade, Blanquita’s experience included teaching at Sayreville War Memorial High School, St. Peter’s High School in New Brunswick, JFK High School in Iselin and Rutgers University. A longtime Middlesex County resident, Blanquita was married to the late Carl T. Valenti and was a proud mother of 5, grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of one.

At PRAB’s 45th Anniversary Gala in 2017, Blanquita received PRAB’s Community Pioneer Award, which recognized her lifetime, visionary contributions to the Central New Jersey community.  She will be missed by so many!