'Mr. Morristown': Michael Fabrizio Mourned In Tear-Filled Meeting

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Michael Fabrizio left his mark all over Morristown. Fabrizio, who died suddenly June 15, wasn't just the executive director of the Morristown Partnership and then Morristown Parking Authority. He was a fishing partner, a family man and a key figure in Morristown's transformation, according to those who mourned his loss at Tuesday's tear-filled Town Council meeting.

Fabrizio, 55, was laid to rest earlier Tuesday. Jennifer Wehring — Fabrizio's successor at the Morristown Partnership — came to the meeting to deliver the Morristown Partnership's budget. But she choked back tears when sharing Fabrizio's impact.

"I very much appreciate the opportunity to acknowledge my friend and mentor," Wehring said. "Michael laid the foundation for the revitalization of Morristown, and it was an honor to work alongside him."

Town Attorney Vij Pawar — in his last meeting before becoming a state Superior Court judge — reminisced about cordial political banter with Fabrizio.

"I would call him a right-wing nut. He would call me a socialist," Pawar said. "We would fight. We would argue. We had a lot of laughs about politics and everything."

Fabrizio grew up in Maplewood and then attended Seton Hall University, where he met his wife. They settled in Mendham and raised triplets.

He served as founding executive director of the Morristown Partnership for more than two decades before taking the helm for the Morristown Parking Authority in 2017. Fabrizio loved his family above all, according to his obituary, but his love for Morristown also left a lasting legacy.

"He really loved Morristown and left an imprint," said Mayor Tim Dougherty. " ... He really was Mr. Morristown."

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