It is with great sorrow that we share this memorial.
Carmen J. Liuzza, Jr. joined the firm 22 years ago when he was a law clerk in the Family Division in Sussex County. At the time, the firm was very small and we were looking for someone with a dynamic personality to eventually take over our Newton office. We were fortunate to have him join our firm. He proved to be a very capable attorney in short order. We immediately learned that Carmen was honest and truly cared about the people he was representing. After making a few Court appearances, as part of his training, it was clear that he was ready to start taking cases to Court. The rest is history.
He developed excellent lawyering skills and became a fixture in the courtrooms throughout Sussex County. He developed a tremendous practice and did, indeed, take over the Newton office. The staff loved him, his clients loved him and we loved him. He became a pillar in our firm and a pillar in the community. He became a partner in 2003. Carmen built a very successful practice and served our clients with compassion, confidence, integrity and always a commitment to do his absolute best. In his practice, Carmen developed hundreds of relationships with clients who repeatedly returned to him and referred their family and friends. His office is filled with thank you cards from clients. We repeatedly received e-mails and notes from clients expressing their gratitude for the excellent work that he did for them.
Carmen was charitable and did not hesitate to volunteer his time, providing legal advice and representation to individuals unable to pay, or provide representation to local service organizations.
The most impressive character trait of Carmen was his fierce devotion to the four most important people in his life – his wife, Christina, and his three children, Carmen, Sara Rose and Christie. He was incredibly proud of them. Nothing came before them except for his devotion to God. Everyone in the office knew of this devotion to his family. His calendar was the evidence. He made his family events priority and made sure his assistant gave his family schedule a priority. Every single week, there were multiple events in his calendar relating to his family. It could have been in the middle of the day, or could have conflicted with a Court appearance. Whether it was coaching his children’s ball teams or back-to-school night, it made it into his calendar and took priority.
We have all been blessed to have Carmen in our lives. He lives on in each memory that we have, each lesson that he provided and the impact he has had on each one of us and the community. Although his time was cut short here on earth, we are confident based on his faith that he is at peace.
The attorneys and staff of Gruber, Colabella, Thompson, Hiben & Montella honor his life and his dedication to our clients, the community and most of all to his family.