Larrie West Stalks

Feb 24, 2022

in 1910-1929 (Born), African Americans, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Politics & Government

1925-2015

Larrie Stalks was Essex County Register from 1974-1994.

Larrie worked at Western Electric and for Local 1286, before she started at City Hall in 1946. She worked her way up through City Hall while also working for Congressman (later Mayor) Addonizio. In 1950, Stalks protested against Far Eastern Restaurant, a downtown Chinese restaurant, for refusing to serve African American customers. In the 1950s she worked for the Water Division.

Larrie helped get Addonizio elected in 1962. She then became Executive Secretary of the Newark Planning Board. In 1967, Addonizio appointed her as Director of the Newark Department of Health and Welfare, the first African American Department head for the city.

From Rise Up Newark: “Don Malafronte, close confidant of Mayor Addonizio said, ‘She believed the best way to influence the transition from white to Black was to integrate into the power structure.’ People of that generation believed you had to stay close to power, to be there when the transition is made. She was younger than the ministers and politicians around her, “but tough! “She was oriented toward working with the Democratic Party and through City Hall, all the way. And it worked for her. She was appointed Executive Secretary of the Central Planning Board and eventually Director of Health and Welfare– two “firsts” for Blacks, and women too.“

Larrie graduated South Side in 1942. She was the sister of Calvin West. The family lived on Charlton Street and Stratford Place. Later she lived on Shanley Place.