Foundation Focus | Short Read
DeSilvas of Liberty Dealerships Honored at 2022 at 35th Annual Foundation Golf Outing
Winter 2023
Amazing weather, friendly competition, networking, and a beautiful course led to an incredible afternoon and evening as the Ramapo College Foundation returned to Upper Montclair Country Club for its 35th Annual Golf Outing. This year, President Cindy Jebb presented the Havemeyer Presidential Leadership Award to Liberty Dealerships and Rick, Michael and Ricky, Jr. DeSilva and remarked, “It is my pleasure to honor the DeSilvas- a wonderful family that has generously and graciously supported Ramapo College and many many students for over 15 years.” The award is given to individuals who offer their expertise and whose contributions touch the lives of students, faculty and staff at Ramapo College. It is named for Theodore Havemeyer, an American businessman who was the first president of the U.S. Golf Association in 1894. Mr. Havemeyer lived on an estate in Mahwah, which is now owned by Ramapo College.
Co-chaired by Frank Conway and Robert Taylor ’94, this year’s outing saw the largest number of Ramapo alumni attend in history and over 170 number of golfers and dinner guests participated in support of the College. The event raised more than $114,000 which directly supports student scholarships, funds both faculty-student research and special initiatives in support of the College’s strategic direction. The outing was co-sponsored by Century 21 Construction and the Anthony J. Marino family, and Liberty Dealerships.
Ramapo College Foundation 2022 Golf Committee
“We are most grateful for the support from our sponsors, the golf committee and the many individuals who helped make this event such a success,” said Christopher Romano, Vice President of Strategic Enrollment, Outreach and Engagement and Executive Director of the Ramapo College Foundation. “It was incredible to see both the dedication of our returning sponsors and supporters who are so invested in the success of this outing and the College, as well as reconnect with the many alumni who played for the first time this year.”
Planning for next year’s outing is already underway and we encourage everyone to save the date: Thursday, September 14, 2023 at Upper Montclair Country Club.
Rick DeSilva Sr.
Rick DeSilva Sr., of Mahwah, is the dealer/owner of Liberty Subaru (Emerson), Liberty Kia (Ramsey), Liberty Hyundai (Mahwah) and Genesis of Mahwah. He is a member of the Ramapo College Foundation and received the College’s Distinguished Citizen Award in 2012. Rick chaired the Ramapo Rumble Motorcycle Rally from 2011-2014. He has been involved for many years in international and national automobile dealer and retailer organizations and committees, and has appeared on Fox News, MSNBC, ABC News, CNN as an industry expert. He is past chairman of the American International Auto Dealers Association (AIADA) and is currently a Director of the American Dealers Association (NADA).
He attended Bowling Green University in Ohio, earning a B.S. in marketing/advertising. He lives in Mahwah with his wife Wendy and their beloved dog, Bentley.
Rick DeSilva Jr.
Rick DeSilva Jr., of Mahwah, is the dealer/owner of Liberty Subaru (Emerson), Liberty Kia (Ramsey), Liberty Hyundai (Mahwah) and Genesis of Mahwah. He has served on numerous industry committees including the New Jersey Coalition of Auto Retailers (NJCAR), NJCAR Services Board, and the Subaru Retailer Advisory Board. He co-founded the NJCAR NextGen Committee and sits on the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Legislative Affairs Committee, where he is the incoming NJ Director. Rick Jr. worked for Toyota Motor Sales before moving back to Mahwah to join the family business in 2003. He served on the committee of the “Ramapo Rumble” event from 2011-2014, and has been a member of the Mahwah Board of Education since 2012.
He received the 2021 Time Magazine Dealer of the year Award.
He received a B.S. in marketing from Clemson University in 1997 and lives in Mahwah with his wife Michelle and their three daughters.
Michael DeSilva
Michael DeSilva, of Wyckoff, is the dealer/owner of Liberty Subaru (Emerson), Liberty Kia (Ramsey), Liberty Hyundai (Mahwah) and Genesis of Mahwah. He started in the family business at Liberty Subaru in 1999 upon completing his studies at the University of South Carolina. He was instrumental in opening the Liberty Hyundai dealership in 2003 and Liberty Kia in 2016. He is on the Board of Directors and is incoming chairman of the American International Auto Dealers Association. He also is on the Board of Directors and served as past chair of the Wholesale Auto Supply Company, and is Regional Vice President of the New Jersey Coalition of Auto Retailers. He lives in Wyckoff with his wife Kristi and their two children.
