Officials Celebrate Late Essex County Dem Chair

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (sixth from left) dedicated a bronze plaque honoring the life and legacy of the late Essex County Register and Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman Philip A. Thigpen on Wednesday, April 16. The plaque was placed on the promenade in the Essex County Government Complex in Newark to raise awareness about Thigpen's contributions to Essex County. 

He was a resident of Montclair when he passed away on October 29, 2013, at the age of 87. Unveiling the plaque with the County Executive are (from left) Freeholder Bilal Beasley, Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, Freeholder Leonard Luciano, Freeholder President Blonnie Watson, Essex County Democratic Chairman Leroy Jones, Thigpen's niece Amanda Joyner, Thigpen's son Rick, Thigpen's cousin Gail Allen, Assemblyman Thomas Giblin, Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne, Terry Tucker from the Essex County Register's Office, Sheriff Armando Fontoura and an unidentified family member.