Public Employee Press

Joe Tronolone of MELS retires

After three decades of providing valuable services to members in the union’s Municipal Employees Legal Services program (MELS), Social Work Director Joe Tronolone has retired.

The New Jersey native, born in Hoboken, supervised a staff of four social workers and interns that helped members with a variety of problems, from housing issues and divorces to financial matters.

“We provided a service for our members that saved them from being evicted from their homes and helped them in family court,” said Tronolone. “It was very rewarding.”

Tronolone was one of the founding members of the New York City Coalition of Social Workers in Legal Settings and taught social work courses at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

He received his master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan, earned an advanced certificate inclinical social work from New York University, and started his union career in 1977 as assistant director of social work.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better working situation,” said Michael Morgan, a social work supervisor who was supervised by Tronolone.

As a retiree, Tronolone plans to travel to Europe and then do some volunteering and possibly work as a tutor in an educational setting.