"Our experience delivering at Saint Peter's was absolutely incredible," said Anne. "The team always checked in with Alex and I, communicated thoroughly, was empathetic and calm when I needed time to breathe or think, and cheered me on. From walking into triage, to being in the delivery room for 12 hours, to staying in the maternity unit to recover for two days, we couldn't have asked for better care."

" We will be forever grateful for this experience and getting to follow in our families' footsteps by delivering at Saint Peter's," said Alexander. "We are so proud and thrilled to have had a fourth generation Saint Peter's legacy baby!"

The Torrisi family's roots in New Brunswick run deep. Alexander's great-grandfather, Angelo Torrisi, was born in New Brunswick in 1901-just a few years before Saint Peter's was established in 1907. He served the New Brunswick community as a barber before eventually becoming the city's fire chief. Alexander's grandfather, Richard, grew up in the city before later moving to East Brunswick. Alexander's father, Daniel A. Torrisi, worked for the City of New Brunswick as both the city clerk and city administrator. Throughout the generations, many members of the extended Torrisi family were also born at Saint Peter's.

Anne's family, the Buccas, also have longstanding ties to the New Brunswick community, Saint Peter's, and Rutgers University. Her father, Benjamin Bucca Jr., formerly served on Saint Peter's Board of Trustees and was head coach of the Rutgers women's tennis team, in addition to his long-standing involvement in the New Brunswick community through civic and university leadership roles. Anne and Alexander grew up hearing stories about the compassion and care generations of mothers in their family experienced at Saint Peter's.
"There's such a strong sense of trust people have in Saint Peter's," said Anne. "My mom still talks about the breastfeeding support group she joined in 1991, and the lifelong friendships she made through it. Hearing those stories gave me so much comfort and peace about delivering here myself."

For Anne and Alexander, welcoming their son into the world at Saint Peter's was the continuation of the shared history between two families. The Torrisi and Bucca families have known each other for decades, and Anne and Alexander first met as babies while growing up on Jefferson Avenue, just steps from each other and the hospital. Over the years, they attended the same schools, rode the same school bus, swam together, and worked as lifeguards before eventually becoming high school sweethearts. Now, with the birth of their son at Saint Peter's, the couple says the experience reflects a full-circle moment for both families.

The couple said Saint Peter's faith-based mission was also an important part of the reason for choosing Saint Peter's. Anne's family grew up across the street from the home of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, the order of nuns that served the Saint Peter's hospital ministry. The nuns were instrumental to the hospital and positively affected Anne as she grew up.

"Coming from Christian families, the values behind a faith-based healthcare system really resonate with us," said Alexander. "It was reassuring to experience care that reflects compassion, respect, and a focus on the whole family. We felt that compassion throughout the entire journey-from the Parent Education classes we took before the birth to the care and support we received when our son was born."

Saint Peter's has long been recognized as a leader in maternal and family-centered care and was the state's first designated Regional Perinatal Center. Among its recognitions, Saint Peter's has received Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care and a Level IV Maternal Levels of Care Verification from The Joint Commission, the highest designation available for maternal care. This designation recognizes hospitals that are equipped to care for the most complex maternal medical conditions and obstetrical complications, with access to advanced intensive care services for expectant mothers and 24/7 availability of highly specialized physicians, staff, and technology. It reflects Saint Peter's ability to provide seamless care across pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum recovery.

For expectant parents, Saint Peter's maternity services offer a full range of birthing options, including the Mary V. O'Shea Birth Center for low-risk pregnancies and comprehensive Labor and Delivery services for all levels of pregnancies, including medically complex births. Midwifery care is available in both the Birth Center and Labor and Delivery settings. The hospital is also home to a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), providing the highest level of care for premature and critically ill newborns, ensuring mothers and babies can receive advanced care in one coordinated system.

Saint Peter's delivered more than 5,400 babies in 2025, making it one of the busiest maternity programs in the region. To learn more about Saint Peter's maternity services, visit saintpetershcs.com/maternity .
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About Saint Peter's University Hospital
Saint Peter's University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter's Healthcare System, is a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Saint Peter's, which received its seventh consecutive designation as a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2025, and its first Magnet with Distinction®, is also a state-designated children's hospital and regional perinatal center, and a regional specialist in diabetes, gastroenterology, oncology, women's services, pediatric surgery and pediatric cardiology/Fetal and Adult Congenital Heart Center. Saint Peter's is the recipient of the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses for the adult intensive care, neonatal intensive care, cardiac progressive care, and pediatric intensive care units. Saint Peter's Children's Hospital provides families with access to a full range of pediatric specialties, including a nationally recognized Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, pediatric cardiology, pediatric intensive care, pediatric surgery and orthopedic surgery featuring innovative anterior scoliosis correction. The hospital has the state's only hospital-based, midwifery-led birth center - the Mary V. O'Shea Birth Center, accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. Saint Peter's is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine, and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Visit saintpetershcs.com or call 732.745.8600.