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Alexander F. Jankowski
Alexander F. Jankowski was born in South Amboy, New Jersey on January 22, 1918, to Polish immigrants, Joseph and Elizabeth Jankowski. He grew up in South Amboy with his four brothers and two sisters. He moved to Perth Amboy, New Jersey when he met and married his wife, Bernice Zawilinski Jankowski. An innovator and entrepreneur for his entire life, he and his wife opened and managed a candy store/luncheonette in Perth Amboy for many years. Seeing the opportunity to take advantage of the growth and development of Central New Jersey, he and his younger brother, John, partnered to own and operate Jan Brothers Excavating Company which remained an active and vital partnership well into the mid-1970s. Mayor Jankowski was first elected to public office in the City of Perth Amboy in 1970. He served as Commissioner of Revenue and Finance for the city until 1972. He was an instrumental participant in the city’s change from a Mayor/Commissioner form of government to the Mayor/Council form as defined under the Faulkner Act. (Faulkner Act (N.J.S.A. § 40:69A-1, et seq.)   Jankowski and his slate of candidates swept into office in 1972.   Jankowski was the first mayor of the City of Perth Amboy elected under the city’s new government format.	Jankowski went on to serve a four-year term as Mayor of Perth Amboy where he is remembered for utilizing his business acumen to maximize government efficiency and institute modern financial practices.  During his term, he was instrumental in securing state/federal funding to bring the Olive Street Community Center to life. 	Throughout his lifetime, Mayor Jankowski was passionately committed to many charitable, civic and religious causes.  He was the standard bearer for the Al Jankowski Association, an organization which supported and assisted him in his service to the community.  Always proud of his Polish heritage, Jankowski was a member of the United Poles of America and served on the Board of Directors of that organization’s credit union. He was also a very active communicant of St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, serving as a lector and collector, as well as in leadership roles in various parish organizations. One of his most cherished awards was receipt of the Regina Nostra Award during the 1990s from then Bishop Hughes for service to the Catholic community. He received many, many awards of recognition throughout his lifetime, including the “Americanism Good Neighbor Award”, several “Man of the Year” Awards, and awards recognizing his many contributions to the community spanning many years of service. In honor of Mayor Jankowski’s love for Perth Amboy and his devotion to various civic, religious and government organizations, Perth Amboy’s Olive Street Community Center was re-dedicated as the Alexander Jankowski Community Center on May 19, 2003. The Jankowski Community Center continues to be hub for many city-wide activities in Perth Amboy and, in particular, the home of the Perth Amboy Senior Citizens of which Mayor Jankowski was a proud member. Even after he retired from his official city capacity, he remained active within Perth Amboy and generously devoted his time to community-minded endeavors. Jankowski passed away after a short illness on March 26, 2003, leaving a lifelong legacy of service. His four children, grandchildren and great grandchildren strive hard to emulate his tireless commitment and dedication to a life of service.