Thomas J. Duch, Esq. graduated from Columbus School #8 and Garfield High School. He graduated from Lehigh University with High Honors, and completed his legal education at Seton Hall University School of Law where he received a Doctorate of Jurisprudence. He served as Mayor of the City of Garfield from 1980 to 1988. He was elected to the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey in 1987 and served two terms representing the 36th Legislative District.
Mr. Duch has been the City Manager of the City of Garfield since September 2003. He has served on the Boys & Girls Club Board of Trustees for over 35 years. Thomas has also served on the Planning Board, the Library Board, the Garfield Drug Abuse Action Committee, the Bergen County Task Force for Homelessness Prevention, and in numerous other civic organizations. He is also a Commissioner in the Suburban Metro Joint Insurance Fund, serves on their Executive Board and on the Operations Committee. He is a long time representative of the City of Garfield in the South Bergen Community Development Board. He is an attorney with a law practice in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. Professionally, he is a member of the Bergen County Bar Association, the New Jersey Bar Association, and the New Jersey Municipal Management Association, and is a former member of the New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association.
Mr. Duch is a current member of the Public Policy Committee of New Jersey Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is an active member of St. Michael’s Cathedral in Passaic, New Jersey. He is a long-time member of the Pulaski Parade Committee at St. Stanislaus Kostka R.C. Church, having served many years as a Vice President. He is also a member of the General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee in New York City.
In October 2018 Mr. Duch was honored to serve as the Grand Marshal of the entire General Pulaski Memorial Parade in New York City. In December 2018 he was chosen by Garfield UNICO as Citizen of the Year. Mr. Duch proudly serves as a member of the Governing Board of St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, NJ. Recently he was honored as Man of the Year by the Freddie Porter Scholarship Committee.
As Garfield City Manager, Mr. Duch is responsible for the day to day operation of the City. He attends all meetings of the Mayor and Council, prepares and submits the budget, prepares and coordinates numerous grant application on behalf of the City, is responsible for all personnel employed by the City, and serves as Public Information Officer. He is also the Garfield Redevelopment Agency Executive Director.
Tom married Cheryl LaPorte 35 years ago. They are the proud parents of Nicole, Thomas (and Kim), Michael (and Lauren), and Timothy. They are the loving grandparents of Poppy Elizabeth Duch, Cooper Warren Duch and John Thomas Duch.
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