Julio Puente's personal outreach to improve conditions for young people, especially in Newark's less privileged neighborhoods, touched thousands of lives. Here is where he gave with all of his heart and soul.
Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Mr. Puente, or Leo as his friends called him, made his home in the Ironbound section of the city. A graduate of Newark's public schools, Lafayette School and East Side High School, Mr. Puente received his BA from Kean University in New Jersey and his MSW at Barry University in Miami, Florida.
During his 20-year career with the Newark Board of Education, Mr. Puente served as coach, social worker and was one of the youngest Vice Principal’s ever appointed by the Newark Board of Education. As an administrator and social worker, his passion was motivating students to work through the problems of urban life and focus on their education.
As a Varsity baseball coach at West Side and East Side High School in Newark, he taught students about discipline, sportsmanship and winning, (he coached several championship teams).
Mr. Puente 's message of hard work and determination was also heard on baseball diamonds around the world during his years as an Envoy Coach for Major League Baseball. In Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Trinidad & Tobago, Nassau, Germany and Spain he worked with young people to promote the sport that inimitably says "America" to millions worldwide.

Mr. Puente also served in the US Armed Forces, ranking as a Lance Corporal in the US Marines. This experience strengthened his resolve to community service.
Mr. Puente became a charismatic community leader who supported the city of Newark as one of its most loyal citizens. A proponent of grassroots initiatives to make Newark a better place to live, Mr. Puente championed its economic and social promise. Although he never pursued public office, he bowed to the requests of public officials and in 1994 accepted the position of President at Newark's East Ward Democratic Club.
He was also a member of the National Council of Exceptional Children, the National Association of Social Workers, the New Jersey Baseball Coaches Association, the New Jersey School Social Workers Association, Project PRIDE, the Newark Spanish Club and the Kean University and Barry University Alumni Associations.
In 1992, Mr. Puente received a New York City Marathon medal for successfully completing the event. He dedicated this achievement to his father, also an award winning athlete in his day.