Alum and Retired Trustee at NJIT Reflects on the Road from Undergrad to PSEG Leader to Deacon
As a newly retired trustee at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Peter Cistaro marvels at how the campus and curriculum developed during his 20 years on the board.
Also, as a 1968 graduate of NJIT, he’s grateful for the bachelor’s he earned in industrial engineering, which opened the door to a long and varied career at the Public Service Electric & Gas Company. That experience, which played to his strengths as a people person, informs his current calling as a deacon at Saint Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany – a role he assumed after being ordained in 2009 – and as director of the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Paterson.
Trustee Cistaro became a “leading advocate and ambassador” for the university who exhibited “outstanding leadership, prudent counsel, diligence and valuable experience,” the board proclaimed in a resolution honoring him. Among other things, he established the Peter A. Cistaro ’68 Family Scholarship for engineering majors – which has aided dozens of students in 14 years – and helped shape the campus, its curriculum and its people. In an interview with NJIT, he reflects on that experience, his days as a commuter student, PSE&G and what he loves about his current mission.
How do you feel about retiring from the Board of Trustees?
Any time you make a change after having relationships with so many great people, it’s always somewhat bittersweet. In one respect, I felt very good about the time that I spent. I felt very good about giving back to NJIT, which I really have in my heart as a great place because it gave me a great opportunity. And when I look back at my life, at least my working career, certainly NJIT has to be at the top of the list. It was the first thing on the list that gave me opportunity. The engineering background, the ability to be organized, the ability to think in a regimented fashion, the ability to look at data and information – all of those things served me very well as I progressed in my career. So yeah, it was a great time and I will miss it. But on the other hand, it has been 20 years, I’m 75 years old and it’s time for some new people to get involved, which they are. I mean, there’s a lot of new blood on the board right now. And I still have other things I want to continue doing. It’s a good time in my life.
Are there certain NJIT milestones you had a hand in that you’re proud of looking back?
Yes, if I look back from a personal perspective, we established a scholarship [in 2007]. We started kind of small and it has grown quite a bit. We’re very proud to be able to support three or four students every year. I think giving back to maybe those less fortunate, those who need it more certainly is big in my book. So, that’s an important thing.
Have you stayed in touch with any of the recipients?
I knew two of them personally. And actually, [Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations] Ken Alexo and I had lunch with the most recent recipient this week. That was nice. And I’ve gone to virtually all of the scholarship lunches. So, we get to sit with them and talk to them and find out a little bit about them without being overly intrusive.
What inspired you to create the scholarship?
It was this idea of giving back, this idea of helping the less fortunate. I always say that I was treated very well. Thank God, I had a great career. I didn’t make a ton of money and I wasn’t a millionaire or anything. But certainly, I led a comfortable life. I had things, our children were grown and, you know, “Yeah, let’s do it.” So, we started out. The other thing was PSE&G would match up to a certain level each year whatever I wanted to put in.. So, it has grown. It has been a good thing.
Other NJIT milestones?
Certainly, the Central King Building acquisition and renovation. The WEC. The residence facilities. When I went to NJIT, there were no residence facilities. Everybody was a commuter. To see now that there’s a vibrant campus in the city of Newark – a very safe vibrant campus. I’m always proud of the fact that when we get the monthly reports of the safety and any activities that are going on, we always stand out as a safe university. It’s always good to hear that. Also, the additions to the curriculum. When I went, it was NCE, period. It has grown so much into so many different colleges and schools. It’s amazing. It’s wonderful.
You delivered the benediction at President Bloom’s induction ceremony. In what ways do you think he has distinguished himself as president?
Just his persona, number one. He’s so open and willing to talk. Number two, his connections. Regardless of the political influence at the time in Trenton, all the things that he has been able to do, all the people he has been able to influence to understand, recognize and appreciate this great institution, are so wonderful. And the expansion that was done under his tutelage. I can go on and on. There are just so many things about Joel. He will be sorely missed. There’s no question about that. But he’s leaving with a great legacy.
Where did you grow up, and what factors led you to choose NJIT as your college?
I grew up in Elizabeth, sort of the next town over from Newark. And when I was in high school, I felt that I wanted to go to college. I was an only child. I was maybe the second in our overall extended family that would have gone to college. I remember speaking to my father. My parents came from very modest means. I told him, “I want to go to college.” He said, “Oh, great, great.” He says, “You have two choices.” I said, “Two choices – what do you mean?” “You have two choices. You can go to Newark State Teachers College (now Kean University). You can go there. Or you can go to Newark College of Engineering.” And I thought for a couple of minutes and I said, “Well, I don’t think I want to be a teacher.” Therefore, I went to NCE. To be perfectly blunt, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be an engineer but it sounded a little bit better than being a teacher. But the interesting point is this – and I was amazed at this – as I grew into my role in corporate America, in different things and in the church, I really liked being a teacher more than being an engineer.
Any particular memories from NCE? Did you do much by way of extracurricular activities?
Unfortunately, I was not involved in any extracurricular activities because I had to work. In those days, we came to school every day. We wore a jacket and tie. That was part of the requirements. You know, I came in, I went to class and when I left, I went to work. I worked at a men’s clothing store in Elizabeth.
What led you to industrial engineering?
It looked like the least technical of the engineering curricula. I thought I’d be more aligned with that as opposed to something more technical. And the interesting thing is that during my career at PSE&G, while the engineering background was great for me – it helped me to have a certain focus, to organize, to look at things in an organized fashion – I can’t say that I did a lot of engineering. I dealt with engineers, I had to know the lingo and I had to be able to read certain things. It was a great background to have, but if I had to characterize myself, I’m more of a people person.
What was your first job at PSE&G back in 1968, and do you remember the salary?
PSE&G came on campus and offered people the opportunity to participate in a management training program. We were actually called cadets. So, we went to a [nine-month] training program and I was assigned as an engineer to one of our geographic facilities around New Jersey. And my starting salary was nine thousand two hundred dollars.
What other roles did you have?
I spent some time going from place to place. Ultimately, I became a manager of a few of those places and then a general manager. Then I moved from the operations part into marketing for a while. From marketing, I went to starting the total quality program in the company. I headed that up for a while. Then I was made an officer in charge of the gas side of the business. When I retired, that was my position: vice president of gas delivery.
Thirty-nine years is a long time with one employer. You explained how you evolved and took on different positions. Is that what kept it interesting?
The initial reason why I went to work at PSE&G was again, as I mentioned, I was an only child and my parents were getting older. I didn’t want to move out of the state. I didn’t want to move away from them because they might need my help, whatever the case might be. Secondly, I tend to be more of a stable individual. I’m not saying there weren’t times when I thought, “Gee, I need look for greener grass.” But when you look, you start to compare with what you have. The longer you are in a position, you look at the benefits you have and say, “Gee, I might be losing those things,” et cetera. And I was very fortunate because on an average of maybe between 2 ½ to 3 ½ years, I moved to another position, whether it was another geographic position doing the same thing or just a different type of function within the corporation. For example, I spent six years in labor relations. And I became the chief spokesman for the company dealing with the largest union. So, that was great for me. I worked at the same company, but it was like having ten different jobs.
What do you love most about being a deacon?
So many things. Certainly, the ability to assist at the liturgy. I love to preach and I get the opportunity to preach every so often. The sacraments. Baptizing children. Teaching adult education. The other thing is just being able to sit down and talk to parishioners from time to time, with some issues that come up. They’re looking for an ear to listen and I sort of pride myself in being a good listener. The other hat that I wear is that I’m director of the diaconate with the Diocese of Paterson. That’s sort of a part-time job working for the Diocese and bishop.
What does that involve?
We’re responsible for the deacon formation program. We run a new formation program every two to three years. So, there’s a selection process. I’m responsible for that. I’m also a liaison with Seton Hall University, which does the academic portion of our formation. I deal with priests. I deal with the bishop, with the existing active deacons – certainly if they need things – the retired deacons and widows of deceased deacons. We do coordinate and track continuing education with the active deacons. And there are personnel issues that arise with the deacons as well. We’re involved with all of that.
Is there something you learned at PSE&G or even NJIT that helps you in what you do now?
If there’s one thing, it’s recognizing that people are the most important ingredient in any enterprise, whether it be PSE&G, a company, your family, the church. It’s the people that make the organization gel. It’s the people that make the organization successful. You need to be aware of that. And like any good organization, you need to feed the people the appropriate things. I’m not talking about food, obviously. I’m talking about treating them with respect, asking them for opinions and giving them opportunities to expand themselves. I am a big believer in the servant leadership concept: give people what they need, clear out any obstacles for them and let them do their job.
