James Plosia

EAST RUTHERFORD - James L. Plosia, 83, from East Rutherford, whose sports and Army combat fame shot him toward leadership in the late 1960s of a tax-cutting dynasty in East Rutherford that persists to this day, died at home Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, a day shy of age 84.

Mr. Plosia was an athlete, war hero, longtime mayor and master builder. In his retirement, he authored several history books with the help of his daughter Shawn.

Mr. Plosia served 26 consecutive years as mayor, carving the lowest residential taxes in New Jersey before stepping down in 1996. His tenure as mayor was sandwiched between two council terms which added six more years. He is in the N.J. Mayors Hall of Fame.

Mr. Plosia was never defeated in a general election in East Rutherford. What made his career colorful was that he ousted the local machine of the late Congressman Henry Helstoski. Mr. Plosia, a Republican, and the congressman's brother, Bob, a Democrat, were boyhood friends. Mr. Plosia exited as mayor in 1995, handing the reins to the current mayor. He was a lifetime champion of the underdog, his political strength rooted in "kindness to people in need."

Mr. Plosia was a basketball scoring phenom who in 1950 was dubbed by Rutgers Targum "the outstanding prospect in the country." He left Rutgers and was recruited by the North Carolina State national powerhouse but military service came first.

An All-Stater in baseball who led the Passaic Valley Conference in scoring as a cager, Plosia made the Special Services football team at Fort Dix. He was also a boxer. He opted to go to Korea instead because "you feel you've missed something if you don't go."

Mr. Plosia served with the 5th Regimental Combat Team on the front lines and was decorated with the Queen of Battle and two Bronze Stars, ending the war in an outpost bunker under fire.

Mr. Plosia made a living making home improvements with two of his sons, Jesse and Kevin. He built his own house and then embarked on a career building sturdy two-family houses, an estimated 40 of them in South Bergen. He is an inductee in the Wildcats Hall of Fame and is an honorary ERFD lifetime fireman.

The late Mr. Plosia, his brother Les and their kin are owners of the historic old Dutch farmhouse once known as the Outwater House on Hackensack Street which has weathered storm, fire and lean times. Mr. Plosia without public funding was hands-on master of all repairs and rehabilitation.

Mr. Plosia was born in Wallington to the late Les and Kathryn (nee O'Donnell) Plosia and lived in Wanaque until 1937, when they settled in the Carlton Hill section of East Rutherford.

Mr. Plosia is survived by his wife, Carolan (nee Wynne), three sons, Jamie of Liberty Corners, Jesse and his wife, Rose, of East Rutherford, and Kevin and his wife, Kathy, of Wood-Ridge, a daughter, Shawn, of East Rutherford, and seven grandchildren.

Surviving siblings are Adele (and the late Conrad) Foerter of Edgewater, Md., and Les Plosia Jr. (and Joan) of East Rutherford.

Mr. Plosia is also survived by nieces, Kim Plosia of New York City and Terri Gaffett of Narragansett, R.I., and in Maryland, nieces, Amy Kaufman and Beth Kimbler, and nephews, Dan, David and Thomas Foerter.

Funeral plans are private. In lieu of flowers please consider the Disabled American Veterans.