The late James Gandolfini was honored last weekend in his hometown of Park Ridge, N.J.
The northern New Jersey town dedicated a section of Park Avenue to the Italian-American actor, renaming the intersection of Park Avenue and Kinderkamack Road “James Gandolfini Way.”
Friends, family members and co-stars joined the hundreds of fans who traveled to the small town where The Sopranos star grew up and returned often.
Gandolfini's wife, Deborah Lin, son Michael, daughter Liliana and sister Leta, as well as The Sopranos director Timothy Van Patten and cast members Steve Schirripa, Vincent Curatola, Tony Sirico, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Pastore and John Ventimiglia were all on hand to pay tribute to the actor.
Several speakers noted Gandolfini's generosity with philanthropic causes and his fondness of the neighborhood.
The city council also declared Sunday "James Gandolfini Day" in Park Ridge.
Gandolfini died aged 51 of a heart attack in Rome last June. Gandolfini’s mother Santa (née Penna) was born in the United States, of Italian ancestry, and raised in Naples. His father, James Joseph Gandolfini, Sr. was a native of Borgotaro, in the Emilia region. Gandolfini's parents were devout Catholics and spoke Italian at home. Due to the influence of his parents, he developed a strong sense of being Italian and visited Italy regularly.
