Bernardino Coutinho Honored By Essex County

Bernardino Coutinho, an American businessman and philanthropist and the father of the state’s first Portuguese assemblyman, has always put Essex County residents first.

That devotion to residents hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. honored Coutinho Wednesday at the Essex County Portuguese Heritage Festival with a key to the county, citing Coutinho’s positive contributions to the civic, political and economic history of New Jersey – especially in Essex County.

"Essex County has been shaped and developed by the various cultures and ethnicities of the people who have lived and worked here,” DiVincenzo said in a press release. “Celebrating the heritage of our neighbors will help us understand and embrace our diversity."

Coutinho said receiving the key to the city was very special to him and he will continue to work hard.

"I am thankful that I have been able to impact the lives of so many Portuguese-Americans in Newark and the United States, and we will continue to work hard," said Coutinho.

But perhaps the area in which Coutinho is most admired for is his assistance to the poor and homeless and his efforts to provide members of the Portuguese community with citizenship and employment opportunities.

In 1991, Coutinho founded The Bernandino Foundation, an organization he created in order to help with charitable community development. The organization provides programming, athletic activities and scholarship grants for those in need.

He has also received awards including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, sanctioned by the U.S. Congress for highest accomplishments as an immigrant and outstanding contributions to America.

In 1994, Coutinho, a native of Marco de Canaveses, Portugal, founded the and Portuguese Heritage Month Celebration in Newark’s Ironbound.

Coutinho and his wife, Maria, have three children – Helena, Albert, and Abilio. His son Albert currently serves in the state Assembly, representing the 29th district.
Coutinho is proud to be representing the district, an area that covers Hillside and Newark.

But at Wednesday's ceremony, Coutinho said he was most proud of his father.

"My father had the courage to work hard and put Portuguese heritage on the map," he said. "He has done a tremendous job of identifying and promoting our heritage here in the United States. It was an extreme honor to become the first Portuguese-American to serve in the NJ General Assembly, but it is an even greater honor to be the son of Bernardino Coutinho."