Biography
Mayor Richard J. Gerbounka was born on November
19, 1945 in Jersey City. At the age of 8 years old his family moved
to Linden where he attended the Linden Public School system. After
graduating from Linden High School in 1963, he joined the United
States Marine Corps. In 1965 he was one of the first 2000 Marines to
land in DaNang Vietnam where he served one year with the 12th Marine
Regiment 3rd Marine Division.
In 1968 he joined the Linden Police Department and retired as
Captain of Detectives in 1994, after 26 years of service. During
that time he received an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from
Union County College.
He and his wife, the former Dorothy Book, have been married for 42
years and they have two children. Michelle Russell has an
Undergraduate Degree from the College of New Jersey and a Masters
Degree from Seton Hall University. Michael Gerbounka is a graduate
of Seton Hall University and received his Masters Degree from
Fordham University.
Mayor Gerbounka’s first elected position was in 1994 as 10th Ward
Councilman. He served the residents of the 10th ward for 12 years
and resigned that position to assume the responsibilities of Mayor
in 2007.
The Mayor is a past president of the following organizations:
Linden PBA Local 42, Linden Superior Officers Association, Linden
Coalition for Political Action, and Linden United Methodist Church
Trustees. He is also a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge
913 and Linden American Legion post 102, Marine Corps League and
Veteran of Foreign Wars Post.
