Dennis P. Collins (June 12, 1924 – December 6, 2009) was an American Democratic party politician who served as the 24th mayor of Bayonne, New Jersey from 1974 until his retirement in 1990.[1]
Born and raised in Bayonne, Collins attended St. Vincent De Paul grammar school and Holy Family Academy. He served in the United States Army for three years during World War II. Collins was elected to the Bayonne City Council in 1962, and served 12 years until being elected as mayor. His four terms in office make him the longest-serving mayor in Bayonne city history.[1] Collins served as a Democratic elector from New Jersey in the 2000 Presidential election.[2]
Collins Park, the largest municipal park in Bayonne, is named in his honor.[3][1] In 2007 the United States Congress named the city's Main Post Office in his honor.[4]
The park is named after Dennis P. Collins, who served four terms as mayor of Bayonne from 1974 to 1990. Prior to that, Collins was a City Council member from 1962 to 1974. Following his twenty-eight years in elected office, Collins worked as an Aide to Congressman, now Senator, Robert Menendez, Sr. and to former Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr.