Gabriel M. Ambrosio
{{Short description|American politician (1938–2013)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|image=
|name=Gabriel M. Ambrosio
|state_senate=New Jersey
|district=36th
|term_start=April 23, 1987
|term_end=January 14, 1992
|predecessor=Joseph Hirkala
|successor=John P. Scott
|birth_date={{Birth date|mf=yes|1938|10|26}}
|birth_place=Jersey City, New Jersey
|death_date={{Death date and age|mf=yes|2013|3|28|1938|10|26}}
|death_place=
|spouse=
|children=
|residence=Lyndhurst, New Jersey
|party=Democratic
|alma_mater=Rutgers University
Seton Hall University
|occupation=attorney
}}
Gabriel M. Ambrosio (October 26, 1938 – March 28, 2013) was an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey Senate for 4½ years from the 36th Legislative District.
Biography
Ambrosio was born in Jersey City in October 1938. He grew up in Lyndhurst graduating from Lyndhurst High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University in 1960 and a law degree from Seton Hall University in 1964. He opened a law firm in Lyndhurst where he served as counsel to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=peqHAAAAMAAJ&q=lyndhurst |title=Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey |volume=203 |year=1988 |author=Fitzgerald, J. A. |accessdate=March 16, 2019}} In 1980, he sought the Democratic nomination for the United States House of Representatives from the 9th district defeating Fort Lee mayor Burt Ross and former Congressman Henry Helstoski.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/147661822/ |title=Forsythe, Fenwick, Rodino win Congress nominations |date=June 4, 1980 |newspaper=Asbury Park Press |accessdate=March 16, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com}} However, he was defeated by incumbent Republican Harold Hollenbeck in the November general election.
In 1987, incumbent 36th district State Senator Joseph Hirkala died. Ambrosio was the Democratic nominee for the March 24 special election to fill the vacant seat. Ambrosio defeated incumbent 36th district Republican Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano by capturing approximately 60% of the vote.{{cite web |url=https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/1987/1987-general-election-results-state-senate-vacancy.pdf |title=1987 Special Elections |publisher=Secretary of State of New Jersey |accessdate=March 16, 2019}} In the regular general election in November that year, he faced a much closer challenge from the other Republican member of the Assembly, Kathleen Donovan, but he defeated her 51%-49%.{{cite web|title=Candidates for the Offices of State Senate and General Assembly|url=http://nj.gov/state/elections/election-results/1987-general-election-results-state-senate-general-assembly.pdf|publisher=Secretary of State of New Jersey|accessdate=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203100/http://nj.gov/state/elections/election-results/1987-general-election-results-state-senate-general-assembly.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}} While in the Senate, he led a special panel investigating the tolls and expenditures of the New Jersey Highway Authority (then the operators of the Garden State Parkway). He also expressed concern about casino owners, including Donald Trump, raising the possibility of running for office in Atlantic City by virtue of owning the casinos there. Ambrosio generally compiled a liberal voting record including championing living will legislation, gun control, gay rights, and insurance reform matters.{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404065546/http://www.northjersey.com/obituaries/200990121_Gabriel_Ambrosio__ex-state_senator__of_Lyndhurst__dies.html |archive-date=April 4, 2013 |url=http://www.northjersey.com/obituaries/200990121_Gabriel_Ambrosio__ex-state_senator__of_Lyndhurst__dies.html |title=Gabriel Ambrosio, ex-state senator, of Lyndhurst, dies |author=Levin, Jay |date=April 2, 2013 |newspaper=The Record |accessdate=March 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}
In 1991, redistricting changed the boundaries of the 36th district by removing Ridgefield and Garfield and adding the more conservative Essex County municipalities of Nutley and Belleville. This in addition to Ambrosio's support of Governor James Florio's unpopular tax increases led to his defeat by Republican John P. Scott in November. In 1993, he sought a rematch against Scott but was again defeated.{{cite web|title=Official List, General Election Returns for the Office of Senate and Assembly for Election Held November 2, 1993|url=http://nj.gov/state/elections/election-results/1993-general-election-results-state-sen-gen-assembly.pdf|publisher=Secretary of State of New Jersey|accessdate=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012926/http://nj.gov/state/elections/election-results/1993-general-election-results-state-sen-gen-assembly.pdf|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=dead}} He died of cancer on March 28, 2013, at the age of 74.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ambrosio, Gabriel M.}}
Category:Lyndhurst High School alumni
Category:Rutgers University alumni
Category:Seton Hall University alumni
Category:People from Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Category:Politicians from Bergen County, New Jersey
Category:Politicians from Jersey City, New Jersey
Category:Lawyers from Bergen County, New Jersey
Category:Democratic Party New Jersey state senators
Category:Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly