Dr. Nicholas De Pace is the only child of Italian American parents, 100 percent Italian and undeniably one of a kind. Practicing the art and science of medicine for 46 years now, his story begins with his father’s parents immigrating from Naples; and his mother’s from Cosenza and Sicily, by way of Argentina. They all settled in Newark, N.J., in St. Michael’s Parish.

His grandfather crafted leather briefcases, his dad worked in the supermarket business, and as many Italians and Italian Americans can relate to, Dr. De Pace’s father encouraged his son to pursue “a better life,” and get an education. And that he did.