Pat DiNizio’s hometown of Scotch Plains, NJ will be naming a portion of a street in his honor. “Pat DiNizio Way” will be unveiled on Tuesday April 17, 2018. Jim Babjak will be speaking on behalf of the band at the event. Here’s the official announcement from the Township of Scotch Plains.
March 26, 2018
The Township of Scotch Plains invites residents and fans to the first of several events honoring native son Pat DiNizio. On Tuesday, April 17, Montague Avenue at the corner of Westfield Avenue will be ceremoniously named Pat DiNizio. The ceremony will begin at 5:30 pm. A new street sign will be unveiled at that time near Pat’s family home.
The local music legend who rose to fame with his band, The Smithereens, during the 1980s, died unexpectedly on December 12, 2017.
Pat was proud of his roots in the community and was a 2015 inductee into the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Hall of Fame (Class of 1973). His group, The Smithereens, featured DiNizio on vocals and guitar, Jim Babjak (guitar and vocals), Mike Mesaros (bass and vocals) and Dennis Diken (drums). The band was best known for the hit songs “Only a Memory” and “A Girl Like You,” which peaked at #38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“It was a pleasure and a privilege to see Pat perform in Scotch Plains this past summer, said Mayor Al Smith. “Since his unexpected death in December, the Township has received many requests to honor Pat’s legacy.” Pat DiNizio Way will forever stand as testament to the man who loved his hometown of Scotch Plains.”
Township Manager Al Mirabella said, “Pat was a personal friend. He never missed an opportunity to say how proud he was of his home town of Scotch Plains. Naming a street in his memory is only one of the tributes we will pay to this hometown treasure. Join us on June 30 at the Scotch Hills Golf Course for a pre-fireworks concert featuring Pat’s former band, The Scotch Plainsmen, and special guests.”