Manuel R. Grova, Jr., was born the second child to Manuel, Sr. and Rosa Grova on March
15, 1966. He grew up with his sister Idalina, and his family in Elizabethport. He still resides in Elizabethport today with his wife, Christine, and his three young children, Angelica, Manny III and Adam.
Manny attended St. Patrick's High School, where he graduated Valedictorian in 1984. His
academic work resulted in him obtaining a full, four-year academic scholarship to Seton Hall University, where he was a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar. In 1985, while at Seton Hall, he met his future partner, Christine, who was then attending Rutgers University. Manny graduated Cum Laude and received "The Seton Hall University Medal Award" on Graduation Day.
Manny then attended Rutgers Law School in Newark and worked full time at the Union
County Prosecutor's office as a Prosecutor's Agent. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1991. He subsequently passed the New Jersey Bar and commenced his legal career.
In 1992, he married Christine Miguel and they started their married life together. The next
year he was hired as an Associate with the Law firm of Mandelbaum, Salsburg, PC. Today, Manny is an Attorney of Counsel and the resident attorney to the firm's Elizabeth Office, located at 75 Elizabeth Avenue in Elizabethport.
In 1994, Manny ran for and won his first four-year term as Councilman, representing the First Ward of Elizabeth. In the year 2000 and 2008, his colleagues selected him to serve as their Councilpresident. His leadership and dedication to his community has helped Manny contribute to the renaissance the Elizabethport neighborhood has experienced. In January 2011, Manny was swornin, beginning his Fifth consecutive four-year term as the City's First Ward Councilman.
In 2012, Manny ran for Councilman at Large for the City of Elizabeth on the Mayor Chris
Bollwage ticket. Having succeeded in the election, on January 1, 2013, Manny was sworn in to begin his first four-year term as Councilman at Large representing the City of Elizabeth, New Jersey. He is currently serving as Council President for the 2014 year.
Throughout the years Manny has taken a lead role in various community organizations. He
has been on the Board of Director for the Elizabeth Portugal Day Committee, Elizabeth Portuguese Lions, the Portuguese Instructive Social Club, Portuguese Care and the PACC. One of his greatest passions is being a Coach for Elizabeth Youth Soccer where he gets to work with children, teaching them important skills such as working together. Manny has used his life experiences to give back to his community. No matter where his life takes him, he has lived his life dedicated to his family first, then his church and the entire community of Elizabeth.
Manuel R. Grova, Jr.
Grand Marshal - 2014