29 Oct ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO HOSTS ESSEX COUNTY ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION Gemma M. Giantomasi from CSG Law and Retired MLB Umpire Phil Cuzzi Honored as ‘Stellas della Contea di Essex’
Published on October 29, 2026
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. hosted the 2026 Essex County Italian American Heritage Month celebration on Thursday, October 29th in the Essex County Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Building. During the cultural event, DiVincenzo recognized Gemma M. Giantomasi, Executive Committee Member of CSG Law in Roseland, and Phil Cuzzi, retired Major League Baseball Umpire, as “Stellas della Contea di Essex” (Stars of Essex County). The honor recognizes them for their commitment to improving the lives of all residents and their community involvement.
“Our celebration is an opportunity to recognize the contributions that Italian Americans have made to the history and culture of Essex County. Today, we are honoring two proud Italian Americans who have positively impacted our world and our County,” DiVincenzo said. “Gemma Giantomasi and Phil Cuzzi each have made an impact on their communities and have continuously improved the quality of life for our residents,” he added.
Gemma Giantomasi represents purchasers, sellers, developers and lenders in real estate transactions. She focuses her practice on real estate acquisitions, sales, finance, condominium development and creation. Her practice also includes alcoholic beverage control law and she has experience with alcoholic beverage control licensing and has successfully handled many applications for person-to-person and place-to-place liquor license transfers before various alcoholic beverage control boards and municipal councils. With Essex County, Ms. Giantomasi has worked as an outside counsel handling real estate transactions involved in the construction of our vocational schools, courthouses and other modern facilities.
Ms. Giantomasi received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law, where she was inducted into the Order of the Coif. While in law school, she served as a Notes and Articles Editor of the Fordham Law Review and was active on the Moot Court Board. She also interned for the Honorable Dennis M. Cavanaugh, U.S.D.N.J., during law school. She received her B.A. in communications and political science, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002. Her work over the years has been covered by various law journals and magazines, and she was even recognized as one of Real Estate Law’s Best Lawyers in America for the 2026-2027 year. In 2018, she was included in NJBIZ’s Forty Under 40 article, as well as their Leading Women in Business articles for both 2019 and 2026.
“Joe, thank you for this wonderful award. Last year, my father received this award and the fact that I have had the tremendous opportunity to follow that this year makes this honor even more special. My parents passed down generational family values of family, hard work and giving back. I enjoy the work I do for Essex County because I know I am having an impact on our residents,” Ms. Giantomasi said, referring to her father Frank Giantomasi.
Phil Cuzzi enjoyed a long Major League Baseball umpiring career that traced an extraordinary arc, from his 1991 National League debut to becoming the oldest umpire in Major League history during his final season in 2025. He worked many of the sport’s biggest stages, including the 2008 and 2019 All-Star Games, multiple Division and League Championship Series, and served as the home plate umpire for Game 1 of the 2017 World Series. Cuzzi also presided over historic pitching feats, such as Bud Smith’s 2001 no-hitter and Cole Hamels’ 2015 no-hitter. His journey included a rare mid-career setback, followed by a determined climb back through the minors before rejoining MLB full-time in 2000. In 2025, he made history again as the first umpire ever to work a Major League game at age 70, a milestone that underscored both his longevity and dedication. His retirement in February 2026 closed a career defined by resilience, big-stage assignments, and a deep commitment to the craft of umpiring.
“I thank God because he has given me a blessed life. Our Italian heritage and traditions mean everything to me. I thank my father for leading by example and showing me about working hard and the love and support from my mother. Because of my work, I have had the opportunity to travel all around this great country, but there is no place as special as North Jersey,” Cuzzi said.
The Essex County Italian Heritage Celebration is part of a yearlong series of programs initiated by County Executive DiVincenzo to raise awareness about and celebrate the diversity of Essex County.
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