Letter by Dr. Tony Defina for Gary Vitta

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

Anthony V. DeFina, Ph.D.

402A Lisk Avenue

Staten Island, New York 10303

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

January 12, 2015

Dear Judge Chesler:

I am writing this letter with respect, personal concern, and support on behalf of Gary Vitta, who resides at 44 Copeland Road in Denville, New Jersey. I wish I could translate into words the tone and emotion of my conversations with Gary in these past months over his present circumstance, the outcome of which rests with your valued experience and compassion as you weigh all of the factors in his case. His reflections, hindsight, and anxieties have generated internal anguish, remorse, fear, and shame. I don’t select those descriptive words lightly for I have known Gary Vitta and his family since 1973, when he and I began our teaching careers at Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn. Over those many years I have seen Gary develop high esteem and earn professional dignity through an effective career with accomplishments in service to students and education in both New York and New Jersey over nearly four decades; this was evident by the outpouring of affection and regard demonstrated by so many ranking educators who attended his retirement celebration.

As a young teacher, Gary always displayed a passion for the classroom, and a willingness to go beyond the minimal expectations. He exhibited competence coupled with personality, which earned him the respect of both his students and his colleagues. Gary continued to exhibit and apply such valued qualities as he furthered his professional career in educational administration. His achievements are varied and extensive as you review his leadership in West Orange, West Essex, Carteret, Hunterdon County and Rockaway School Districts. Gary in his capacity as Superintendent of Schools was as passionate to achieve and as committed to provide effective education beyond minimums as he was an enthusiastic new classroom teacher forty-two years ago.

He has the ability to project a positive vision and then apply his talents and focus to bring that vision to reality. In addition to performing his county and district responsibilities, Gary has presented numerous workshops and action labs at New Jersey School Board Conventions, and has traveled extensively to further improve his skills and knowledge. His leadership is masterful and skillful. He is a “people person” and understands the value of generating a productive atmosphere for success at all levels.

I also know Gary as a kindhearted and gracious man. In all the years I have had the privilege of being his friend and colleague, I can say without reservation that he is a responsible and loving husband, father, and grandfather as well as a loyal and caring friend. In my forty-two year teaching career I have come across few who have the same level of passion and integrity as Gary Vitta.

Gary takes responsibility for his actions, and understands accountability for his decisions. He is a man who realizes that he made an error in judgment and spoke the “wrong words” out of fear and anticipation. Please do not erase from your deliberation his decades of valued service to so many students, teachers, and administrators as well as his devotion and need for family and friends who continue to love and support him through this unfortunate situation.

I trust in your sense of fairness and leniency as you exercise your power of justice and decide what consequence befits his offense, especially in view of the personal sorrow and distress he struggles with every day as he tries to cope with your pending decision . Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance on behalf of Dr. Gary Vitta. Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Anthony V. DeFina, Ph.D.

Wayne Hills High School, Science Department Lead Teacher and Former Supervisor

Montclair State University, Biology Department Adjunct Professor