By Angel Boose
In the city of Paterson, Straight Street between 20th and 21st avenues, has been renamed “Pete Tirri Way” in honor of longtime Paterson resident, educator and union leader Peter A. Tirri. The renaming recognizes Tirri’s decades of dedication to the students and educators of Paterson. He served as the president of the Paterson Education Association for 42 years, leaving behind a great legacy.
A street naming ceremony was held to honor Tirri and unveil the new street name outside of the Paterson Education Association building on Friday, Sept. 27. It was attended by city officials, school officials, NJEA state and local leaders, as well as Tirri’s previous PEA officers, members, family and friends.
“It’s no surprise the street being renamed is Straight Street because Pete has always been a straight shooter,” said Sanid Lazzara, deputy director of the Passaic County Board of County Commissioners. Lazzara is also an NJREA member who retired from Woodland Park.
Born and raised in Paterson, Tirri loves the people who live and work there. He is the proud product of the Paterson public school system. He attended School #5, School #12 and graduated from Central High School in 1964. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Paterson State College and, after the college’s name changed, a master’s degree from William Paterson College, he applied to work as a math teacher in the city that he loved.
Tirri began his teaching career in the Paterson School District in 1969 at School #30, which was later named Martin Luther King Jr. School. He eventually realized math was his forte and was assigned to solely teach that subject. In 1978, he was transferred to School #12 as a basic skills intervention math teacher.
Retired Paterson EA President Pete Tirri speaks at the street dedication ceremony. Behind him is Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh.
Becoming an advocate
Like most leaders, Tirri ran for PEA president because he felt there needed to be more effective leadership in the local association. Once elected, he immediately got to work with his team of five officers. Their work and dedication began to quickly attract more involvement in the association. Members saw the work that was being done and, because of Tirri’s positive approach, they wanted to help.
With increasing member involvement, the association outgrew its existing space. PEA went from conducting union business in one room of a building on West Broadway to purchasing a three-story building. The building has since been paid in full.
Tirri attributes much of his success to many of the great teams he had throughout his 42-year presidency and prides himself on bringing people together.
“They dedicated themselves to the work—for years—because of what was being done, because of us working together,” Tirri said. Many of the people he worked with over the years were present for the street naming ceremony, which is a testament to the kind of man Tirri is.
Leaving a legacy
“Dad would never imagine his name being on a street sign,” said Tirri’s son Vince, who serves in the Army National Guard. Vince reminisced about how tough it was growing up in a union household, but how he learned to appreciate it as an army officer.
“Our family’s focus became what we can do for others,” Vince said. “Because of my dad, I had the greatest teacher in leadership.”
PEA will forever benefit from the selfless work of Tirri and his team.
“His legacy is etched in the countless victories he secured at the bargaining table and the unwavering support he provided for all employees” said Andre Sayegh, mayor of the city of Paterson.
Honoring a true leader
The idea to name a street after Tirri was initiated by PEA’s current president. After looking out of the windows of PEA’s office day in and day out, President John McEntee thought the street sign outside of the window should bear Peter Tirri’s name.
“It’s unbelievable what things live beyond his time as president,” said PEA President John McEntee. “So many people benefit from his work.”
PEA has a 295-page contract book with countless protections because Tirri went to jail for the educators he served to have better wages, daily preps and duty-free lunches.
“With Pete’s generation beginning to retire and move on to different things, I realized how important they were not only to the city and the union, but to the organized labor union,” McEntee said.
Tirri’s impact extended to the heart of Paterson. He was a steadfast partner, collaborating with city officials and community leaders to address the challenges facing not only educators, but the students and the schools.
NJEA Vice President Steve Beatty shared that Tirri made his mark felt across the state for an entire generation.
“He was a long-time member of NJEA’s Delegate Assembly, the governing body that steers our union,” Beatty shared. “True to form, he was more than just a participating member. Surprising no one in this room, he took on leadership roles and used his voice, guided by his passion for supporting members to move our union forward.”
Tirri chaired the NJEA Urban Education Committee, advocating for state-level policies that impacted schools in urban areas across the state. He also served as a member of the NJEA Working Conditions Committee, going on to chair that committee until retiring in 2015.
“He was a staunch advocate for ensuring our schools were healthy and safe for our students before that was a common phrase that we all used,” Beatty said. “Peter knew that educators’ working conditions were students’ learning conditions. He fought tirelessly to ensure our students had nothing but the best conditions in which to learn.”
A lasting tribute
Tirri has advice to current and future association presidents.
“Be prepared to deal with any and everything,” Tirri said. “You’ll never believe all of what can happen.” He said officers need to trust one another and work on building a good relationship, which includes “hanging out together.”
PEA flourished under Tirri’s leadership, becoming a powerful force for positive change in the Paterson community. Pete Tirri Way will forever bear his name as a testament to his enduring legacy and a reminder of the impact one individual—and his team—can have on a community.
Angel Boose is an associate director in the NJEA Communications Division. She can be reached at aboose@njea.org.