Eliu Rivera (December 8, 1943 – October 1, 2017) was a

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

politician who represented District 4 on the Hudson County, New Jersey

Board of Chosen Freeholders In New Jersey, a Board of County Commissioners (until 2020 named the Board of Chosen Freeholders) is the elected county-wide government board in each of the state's 21 counties. In the five counties that have an elected county executive, the ...

, one of nine members who serve in a legislative role administering all county business. District 4 includes portions of the City of Jersey City, New Jersey. He served in office from 2006 to July 1, 2013, when he resigned from office and was replaced by E. Junior Maldonado. Rivera was born in

Aibonito, Puerto Rico Aibonito () is a small mountain town and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the Sierra de Cayey mountain range, north of Salinas; south of Barranquitas and Comerío; east of Coamo; and west of Cidra, and Cayey. Aibonito is spread over 8 ...

and migrated with his family to the mainland United States at an early age. He attended local schools, graduated from William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City. Then worked in the

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U ...

and continued his education at

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and was ...

and

Saint Peter's University Saint Peter's University is a private Jesuit university in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was founded as Saint Peter's College in 1872 by the Society of Jesus. The university offers over 60 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 2,600 un ...

. He later received an honorary doctorate for his community work from

New Jersey City University New Jersey City University (NJCU) is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey. Originally chartered in 1927, and known as Jersey City State College for 40 years of its history, New Jersey City University consists of the School of Business, ...

.Mota, Caitlin
"Former freeholder and Puerto Rican leader Eliu Rivera dies at 74"
''

The Jersey Journal ''The Jersey Journal'' is a daily newspaper, published from Monday through Saturday, covering news and events throughout Hudson County, New Jersey. ''The Journal'' is a sister paper to ''The Star-Ledger'' of Newark, ''The Times'' of Trenton an ...

'', October 2, 2017. Accessed October 2, 2017. A community activist, Rivera was employed by the Puertorriqueños Asociados for Community Organization (P.A.C.O.) agency since 1970 and serving as its Executive Director, Rivera worked extensively in the housing, economic development, health, education and community development areas. Rivera is a former Deputy Mayor of Jersey City. In 2012, the corner of Manila Avenue and Second Street was renamed in his honor. Rivera died on October 1, 2017, at Menonita Hospital in his hometown Aibonito, Puerto Rico, at age 73, from the lingering effects of a chemical he had accidentally inhaled six years earlier that required him to breathe from an oxygen tank.Kowsh, Kate
"Hudson County Freeholder Eliu Rivera has upbeat prognosis after weeks in hospital"
''

'', July 1, 2011. Accessed October 2, 2017. "Jersey City Freeholder Eliu Rivera has been hospitalized for several weeks and was in stable condition yesterday at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, colleagues said.Rivera, 67, was hospitalized earlier this month after unintentionally inhaling an unknown substance, Freeholder Chairman William O’Dea said."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivera, Eliu 1943 births 2017 deaths People from Aibonito, Puerto Rico Hispanic and Latino American politicians County commissioners in New Jersey New Jersey city council members New Jersey Democrats Politicians from Jersey City, New Jersey William L. Dickinson High School alumni Rutgers University alumni Saint Peter's University alumni 21st-century American politicians Puerto Rican people in New Jersey politics United States Postal Service people