Mayor 1968 - 1979
Mayor Sam
He died on the day after Christmas
May he rest in peace and May we always remember Mayor Sam
On December 26, 2009, the flags at city hall flew at half staff to mark the passing of Sam Patullo. The son of Italian Immigrants, Sam was born and raised in Bound Brook, served his country during World War II, married his childhood sweetheart and raised his family here in his hometown.
He and his brother Frank were tailors and opened their own business. Both brothers were kind and generous and always ready to chat or to help a neighbor in need.
Sam was a dedicated fireman and was known for his honesty and humility as well as his impeccable taste in clothes. Although a man who shunned the spotlight, Sam stepped up to the plate when his friends and neighbors urged him to run for Mayor. He won easily and was available to his fellow citizens at all times. Everybody knew that all you had to do was go down to the tailor shop and Mayor Sam would hear you out.
Easily reelected, his biggest battle was with a Wicked Tropical Storm named Doria. When the old reservoir burst, the downtown was under water and Sam battled those waters for 72 hours straight. With his fellow fireman, he fought the floodwaters and got his frightened citizens to safety. He waded through the streets stopping to clean out storm drains so the deadly water could recede.
Sam refused accolades and would insist that the true heroes were his fellow citizens who worked so hard to save the town. He finally retired, turning down offers to run for higher office, and spent the rest of his life caring for his beloved wife and family.
Mayor Sam is gone now, leaving behind leaving a legacy of integrity and honesty that stands as inspiration to those who remember the brave tailor who cared so very deeply for his family and his hometown.
