Just one of New Jersey’s most prominent citizens — businessman, philanthropist and motion picture producer Steve Kalafer — died Wednesday. He was 71.

Kalafer, simply recognized in a group with his sharp attire, thick-framed glasses and gregarious smile, was the longtime proprietor and CEO of Flemington Car or truck & Truck Country, which considering the fact that the the early 1970s grew into a automobile-dealership empire.

He also was the founding operator of the Somerset Patriots baseball workforce in Bridgewater, which this yr became a Double-A Minor League affiliate of the New York Yankees.

Kalafer served on the RWJBarnabas Health Board of Trustees, was chairman emeritus of Somerset Overall health Care Basis and served as a New Jersey Suppliers Insurance plan trustee.

He also was a motion picture producer, earning 3 Oscar nominations for Best Documentary Shorts.

In 2020, he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in a course with Backyard garden State icons that included “The Addams Loved ones” creator Charles Addams, Rutgers women’s basketball mentor C. Vivian Stringer and Nobel prize-successful economist Milton Friedman.

New Jersey Business enterprise & Market Affiliation President and CEO Michele Siekerka mentioned Kalafer, who served as a trustee for the team from 1994 to 2016, was full of “enthusiasm, vitality and information.”

“Steve was lots of factors to lots of persons across the state and over and above,” she mentioned. “He embodied the legitimate spirit of entrepreneurship by his quite a few impactful endeavors that boosted New Jersey’s economy, all even though dedicating himself to company stewardship and philanthropy with incomparable enthusiasm.”

Expert services have not been declared.

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