Oakland Post Office To Be Renamed In Honor Of WWII Vet Thursday

OAKLAND, NJ — The borough post office Thursday will be renamed in honor of Frank Leone, a World War II veteran and longtime Oakland postmaster.

Leone was a World War II veteran. After returning home from the war, Leone and his wife moved to Oakland. President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Leone postmaster of the Oakland post office in 1967. He served in that capacity for 48 years.

Leone died Sept. 7, 2014.

Leone was also president of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the American Legion Post 369 and the Franklin Lakes Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He was also chief of the Oakland Fire Department and deacon of the Ramapo Valley Baptist Church.

"I have the joy of being Frank's wife for 60 years. Truth be told, his funeral was on our 60th wedding anniversary," Leone's widow, Ellen previously said in a statement. "I cannot think of any bigger honor for Frank than to have his name mentioned with Oakland in the same breath."

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat representing New Jersey's 5th Congressional District, sponsored the federal legislation changing the post office's name.

"I'm proud to celebrate and recognize Frank's life," Gottheimer previously said.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com