NORTHVALE — The Borough of Northvale Mayor and Council is expected to recognize Northvale Public School staff members Joan Bohan and Michael Schulman for life-saving actions during its Wednesday, Feb. 11 meeting.
Mayor Joseph E. McGuire is expected to present a proclamation honoring Bohan and Schulman — both longtime employees of the Northvale Public School — and declaring Feb. 12, 2026, “Joan Bohan & Michael Schulman Day” in Northvale.
According to the proclamation, the two were at a boys basketball game at the school on Tuesday, Jan. 20, when a player collapsed and lost consciousness. The proclamation states that Bohan and Schulman began CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the gymnasium, bringing the student back to consciousness.
The incident also drew broader attention in a report by WABC-TV (ABC7), which quoted Bohan describing what she saw from the stands: “I was there as a spectator. I attend many of the games and volleyball and basketball during the course of the year to support the students and noticed that a student fell down,” she said. “And I immediately didn’t see him moving and I ran from the stands to go to his aid.”
ABC7 reported that the player was unconscious and did not have a pulse. Schulman told the station, “We then rolled him over. We started doing compressions, used the defibrillator, and gave two rescue breaths,” adding, “And luckily, after that, he opened up his eyes and he realized where he was and started coming through.”
Superintendent Michael Pinajian told ABC7 the family was grateful for the quick response and that the student was recovering well. “I spoke to the family several times between yesterday and today and each report I get just looks better and better,” Pinajian said. “The student is doing really well and he’s excited to return to school to be with his classmates and his teachers.”
Bohan told the station the student seemed unaware of what had happened when he regained consciousness. “It was priceless. His words were, ‘can we finish the game now?'” she said. “I don’t think he realized whatever happened at the moment. Yeah, it’s a beautiful ending.”
As of press time, the meeting agenda had not yet been posted.