Letter for Gary Vitta by former Supervisor of World Language

Dr. Vitta's Legacy

Professional Educator. Master School Administrator. College Professor. Dedicated Husband, Father, Grandfather, And Loyal Friend To Many

Bump on My Road of Professional Success

“Those Without Sin Cast The First Stone”

Fact: I was charged with Obstruction of Justice/ Witness Tampering

Fact: This happened years after my retirement

Fact: I pled guilty to this offense. There was no arrest or indictment.

Fact: I mistakenly told someone not to tell the truth about a gift(s) given to my daughter at her graduation party at the Madison Hotel in 2007. It should be noted that I had given the gifts back shortly after the gathering in 2007. However, the mistake, error in judgment or offense as it’s called happened in 2013/14. It truly was a mind boggling stupid act on my part. I am not including all the details of this here but the charge was as stated above

Fact: Federal Judge Chesler said if he thought I took a bribe he would be sending me to jail; however what happened here is very unclear and it represented mind-boggling stupidity. There was no restitution of the gifts at all as there was no bribery or corruption.

Fact: I was sentenced to three years of probation with the first year being home confinement. I was also fined $10,000

Fact: I never was charged with bribery or corruption and I never did anything against the law in the past. The word corruption or crooked was never used by anyone other than an article written by a radio station and perhaps some other media outlet. I assume that those words were used to inflame what occurred and to defame my good name

Fact: I am also a very trusting, amiable human being and let many people into my life. I have been told by many this is part of my personality and that I should be far more careful as to whom I call a friend.

Fact: I had over 135 strong letters of support from individuals in all professions including a former Chief of Police, a former Secret Service Agent, Police Officers, Doctors, Detectives, Lawyers, Board of Education Members, Professional Colleagues, Family, Friends, former students and neighbors

Fact: I take full responsibility for my stupidity and for the offense as well as the pain and suffering I caused myself, my family and friends

Fact: About a year after adjudication of the offense, the State of New Jersey filed a civil lawsuit against me claiming that the offense would precipitate a forfeiture of my earned pension and medical benefits and that I should be barred from public employment

Fact: This lawsuit went on for months and a vigorous battle was fought by my attorney and the attorneys for the State of New Jersey

Fact: Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson ruled and a final judgment was declared with prejudice meaning that this case can never be brought forth again. She ruled that the State of New Jersey failed to prove that what happened touched upon my role as Superintendent and that my pension must be restored immediately and retroactively. She also ruled that I could work in public employment.

Fact: The State of New Jersey filed a motion appealing her decision to the New Jersey Appellate Court. The State of New Jersey then dropped their appeal on August 3, 2016 indicating that upon further review of the record and issues in this case that it was decided that the State should withdraw its Notice of Appeal

Fact: The New Jersey Bureau of Pensions refused to abide by Judge Mary Jacobson’s decision and my attorney had to fight vigorously with the pension bureau

Fact: The Judge had to once again be asked to reissue her order and after more legal briefs and battles my pension was finally restored in late August 2016

Fact: Steve Edelstein, my attorney, is in my humble opinion, the absolute best expert in the field of school law and pensions. The legal briefs and oral arguments were outstanding and truthful. He and his team carefully examined all the issues and provided concrete examples as to why the State was so off base in even bringing forth such a lawsuit.

Fact: This entire ordeal took years off my life and caused so much suffering not only to me but to my wife, children and all my family and friends. I take full responsibility for my stupid ridiculous action.

Fact: There are definitely media outlets that choose words that are inflammatory such as crooked Superintendent and Corrupt etc. These are defamatory remarks that incite the public with information that is totally erroneous.

Fact: In addition, the New Jersey Board of Examiners also did not abide by the Judge’s decision regarding working in public employment and decided to try to revoke my certification. After another legal battle I agreed to settle for a 3 year suspension of my School Administrator’s Certificate.

Fact: I presented above the facts and only the facts. There can be no dispute over what is written here.

Fact: As I said above I was wrong and this was a major blip in my successful career. It will be a stigma I must learn to live with all my life.

It is my hope that others can learn from my mistake

It is also my hope that I can move forward despite fake news and the damage I did to my reputation

It is my hope that whoever lays eyes on this website reads the various pages in total

I plan to post about 25 of the 135 letters of support I received during this life altering crisis

It has been a rough road but with God, Family and Friends I survived

I plan to move forward with integrity and dignity

2017

Gary Vitta

February 9, 2015

Honorable Stanley R. Chesler, U.S.D.J.

United States District Court

Frank R. Lautenberg U.S. Post Office & Courthouse

2 Federal Square

Newark, New Jersey 07102

Re: United States v. Gary Vitta

Crim. No. 15-01

Dear Judge Chesler,

My name is Ciro Violante and I am a retired supervisor of World Languages and ESL with the Nutley School District. I am writing this letter on behalf of Dr. Gary Vitta whom I have known for more than 25 years as an educator and as a close family friend. We became friends when my wife and Gary were both hired in the West Essex School District as administrators. Due to Gary’s outgoing, vivacious, lively, and caring personality and as well as our commonality, we soon became best friends. Our families went on vacations together and confided in each other’s educational and financial matters. To be specific, when Dr. Vitta was about to purchase the house in which he presently lives in Denville, he asked for my opinion if he was making the right decision. Our children grew up together and became so close that they felt they were siblings. Because Gary inspired and motivated my children to excel in school as well as work, they considered him as their second father.

Dr. Vitta has such a jubilant and friendly characteristic personality that he tends to trust everyone he meets and within minutes he creates lasting relationships. To give an example, a few years ago we went away on vacation together to Hawaii, and while we were at the pool relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather, he met a couple. He started talking to them, and soon after he invited them to have dinner with us. From that, a lasting relationship evolved in which Gary kept in touch with these people for many years. To put things into perspective, if he had met your honor under different circumstances and you had spent 30 minutes together, he would have considered you a friend and next he would have invited you to his house at the next family gathering. This is the kind of man that Gary Vitta is.

Dr. Vitta has led an exemplary life in every aspect. He is well liked and respected by many. He is a model husband, father, son, brother, colleague, mentor and friend. He is very personable and warm and he is always inclined to helping people in need in any way he can. He is so understanding and compassionate that he always has people’s best interests at heart.

Throughout the 25 years that I have known Dr. Vitta as an educator, he always had in mind the success and betterment of the students and the districts that he served. Even now that he has retired from education, he continues to influence young minds by volunteering in a tutorial program in Morristown to less fortunate students.

When I heard Gary had been charged for attempted witness tampering, I could not believe what I was hearing. He told me personally that he made a big mistake in judgment and was so emotionally distraught over his ridiculous actions. Your Honor, you need to know that Gary is a compassionate, caring and selfless person. Ever since this nightmare began, it has taken an emotional toll on my dear friend Gary and his family.

Throughout this ordeal, Dr. Vitta has been on an immense emotional roller-coaster. I am afraid that it will take a toll on his physical health and that it will be irreversible both emotionally and physically. I beg the court to be lenient with him and take into consideration all the wonderful and caring things that he has done in life rather than a mistake that he readily admitted through lack of better judgment and stupidity.

I firmly believe in the legal system and trust that he will be given a second chance. He always taught my own children right from wrong and to this day he continues to do that by accepting responsibility readily for his error and telling everyone around him that he made a terrible mistake. I truly appreciate the opportunity to tell the Court that, even knowing what I do, I continue to trust and believe in Gary. I will stand by Gary in any way I can and humbly implore Your Honor for leniency and mercy.

Respectfully yours,

Ciro Violante,

Retired Supervisor of World Languages & ESL

Nutley Public Schools