At the recent honoring of Dr. Angela Salanitro Bellizzi at the Women’s Club are, from left, front row, Prudence Younger, Bellizzi, Joan Hayes, Deborah Lebow. Back row from left, Linda Potter, Jill Simmons, current president of the Women’s Club, and Susan Griffith.
GLEN RIDGE, NJ — The following release was sent in by the Women’s Club of Glen Ridge.
On April 5, the Women’s Club of Glen Ridge bestowed an honorary membership on Dr. Angela Salanitro Bellizzi.
Angela, her husband Frank, a dentist, and their two young children moved to Glen Ridge in 1975. Soon after, she joined the Women’s Club and has been an active member ever since.
Angela began her involvement with the club by joining the Evening Department, which was the easiest to attend given her full-time medical practice.
A pioneer in the field of pediatric allergy, she graduated from Barnard College and was one of only five women that year to attend the UMDNJ School of Medicine where she also interned and did a residency in pediatrics at NYU Medical Center. Under her maiden name of Dr. Angela Salanitro, she practiced as a pediatric allergist in Upper Montclair for 41 years. She is now retired. She has been the director of pediatrics at Mountainside Hospital, president of the New Jersey Allergy Society, and a member of the board of trustees of the Medical Alumni Society of UMDNJ to name a few of her extra-professional duties.
From 1985 to 1987, with her children in high school, Angela became an advisor for the Girls’ Club. She guided the girls through their meetings, community service events, fashion shows and Candy Cane Balls. Angela then served two terms as president of the club, from 1988 to 1992. During her tenure as president, she presided over several events and projects, including:
• the Make-A-Wish Foundation;
• a luncheon to launch the Glen Ridge Free Public Library’s building fund;
• several ambulance fundraisers;
• the Arts Festival; and
• the town Easter Egg Hunt.
Not to be slowed down after her years as president, Angela was the chairwoman of the Community Service Committee from 1992 to 1995. She has been a member of the President’s Advisory Council, the Investment Committee, Finance, Literature, Home and Garden, Social, Religions and Spirituality, and the Ways and Means committees. She was on the board again as corresponding secretary from 2007 to 2010. This year Angela is a member of the Music Committee.
Angela has many interests outside the club, as well. She is a member of the Mercier Club, a Catholic organization that sponsors fundraising activities for local charities, and the Roundtowers, a social dancing club.
She enjoys the opera and loves spending time with her grandchildren.
Angela is optimistic about the future of the Women’s Club. She would like to see the club continue to be inclusive of all ages and seek to “stimulate the involvement of the many women of our community.” Always thinking of what’s best for the club, Angela can envision welcoming students from relevant high school classes at program meetings. She would like the Women’s Club to explore the needs of the young mothers in town, as well as the working mothers and those who are retired.
“We should strive to schedule activities and events in both the day and evening to accommodate the evolving lives of the women in Glen Ridge,” she said.
Thank you, Angela, for sharing your time and talents with the Women’s Club for these many years. Your positive attitude, involvement, and leadership skills encourage others to make the most of their opportunities.
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