It is with profound sadness that the Township of Belleville mourns the passing of one of our most cherished and celebrated residents, Connie Francis.
Born Concetta Franconero in Newark in 1937, Connie moved to Belleville as a child and graduated from Belleville High School in 1955. She went on to become an international music icon, selling over 200 million records and forever cementing her place in American music history with unforgettable hits like “Who’s Sorry Now,” “Stupid Cupid” and “Where the Boys Are.”
In 2009, we proudly celebrated her legacy by naming the Belleville High School auditorium the “Connie Francis Theatre” and dedicating “Connie Francis Court” outside her childhood home. That same year, I had the distinct honor of meeting Connie. She was remarkably warm, gracious, and genuinely humbled by the Township’s efforts to honor her. Despite her global fame, she carried herself with an authenticity and humility that made clear she never forgot her Belleville roots.
Connie Francis was more than a musical legend — she was a proud daughter of Belleville. Her journey from our hometown to the world stage serves as a powerful inspiration to generations of Belleville residents.
On behalf of the Township of Belleville, I extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends, and countless fans. We will forever honor her memory and the mark she left on our community and our hearts.
Michael A. Melham
Mayor of Belleville
Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.
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