Four new Fifth District Hometown Heroes lead, inspire, from Pascack Valley

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) with Eightieth Anniversary Hometown Heroes in Mahwah on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) with Eightieth Anniversary Hometown Heroes in Mahwah on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.

MAHWAH—U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) on Monday, Dec. 16, honored local lifesaving first responders, veterans, volunteers, community leaders, and residents during his Fifth District Hometown Heroes Ceremony at Ramapo College.

Gottheimer recognized 16 residents as Fifth District Hometown Heroes to acknowledge their dedication to improving the lives of their neighbors, families, and communities. It was the 80th anniversary of the awards. [Click here to see the ceremony.]

“If you tune into cable or go onto social media, there is far more attention these days on what’s going wrong with America, and far too little attention on what’s going right,” said Gottheimer, who recently announced he is running for governor to replace fellow Democrat Phil Murphy. “But then, stories crop up here and there of an EMT who has saved countless lives and volunteered decades of service, or a young student going above and beyond to help those less fortunate.”

He added, “You realize that we just don’t spend enough time showcasing all of the good that happens every day — not enough time recognizing what it means to be a great citizen in the greatest country in the world.”

Honorees from the Pascack Valley:

  • Daniel “Dan” Zambrano, Westwood – In 2024, Dan successfully nominated Downtown Westwood’s 232-year-old European Copper Beech Tree for the NJDEP’s Big and Heritage Tree List. He also helped organize Westwood’s first Juneteenth Tree Planting Celebration and leads the Westwood Shade Tree Advisory Committee, where he works to enhance the local tree canopy, benefitting both the environment and residents’ utility costs.
  • Rebecca Miller Pringle, Hillsdale – Rebecca is senior vice commander for Bogota Post 5561 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. A decorated Desert Storm veteran, she raises awareness and funds to support homeless veterans and advocates for accessible housing. Rebecca also works as a licensed real estate broker assisting military families and volunteers with organizations such as Make-A-Wish.
  • Jennifer Charnow, Woodcliff Lake – Jennifer is Woodcliff Lake’s Stigma-Free coordinator, promoting mental health awareness and substance-free environments. She created the Parent Academy program to provide resources on parenting and mental health. Jennifer is co-president of the Pascack Hills High School Parent Faculty Association and vice president of the Wilder Family Foundation, which supports public safety and assists the homeless.
  • Daniel O’Brien, Emerson – A firefighter for more than 50 years, Dan joined the Westwood Fire Department at age 18 and has dedicated his life to public service. In November, he transported 16 generators to North Carolina to aid in Hurricane Helene relief efforts, where many residents remain without power, potentially until spring 2025. Moved by the devastation, O’Brien began collecting surplus equipment from New Jersey fire departments and launched a GoFundMe campaign to purchase additional used fire equipment, including tankers, pumpers, and ladder trucks. He personally covers transportation costs, with each trip costing approximately $1,500 in fuel.

Local Reactions

Jen Charnow, backed by her kids Jacob and Madeline, shows off her U.S. House of Representatives Hometown Hero Award as presented by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) on Dec. 16, 2024. Charnow family photo.

Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo praised Charnow’s recognition, writing, “Proud of our resident Jen Charnow. On Dec. 16, Congressman Josh Gottheimer will present Jen with the Hometown Hero award for her prevention work with the Hills Valley Coalition and for the Parent Academy program she created. Collectively she has done over 40 programs for our community.”

Residents cheered the post, adding their support:

  • Thank you, Jen, for everything you do for our community!!!! This recognition is very much deserved! — Rachel Diamond
  • Congratulations, Jen! So very well deserved! You are making a difference with each and every program! — Lisa Brodsky
  • Thank you, Jen, for all your hard work! So glad you’re being recognized. — Samantha Angerman
  • Fantastic — she has helped so many families! — Councilwoman Jacquie Gadaletta
  • Reflecting on her partnership with Charnow, Lee Ann Giangrasso Schwartz, a fellow PFA member, said: “Over the last 15 or so years of being on multiple PFAs, I have gotten to meet some really passionate and caring people. One of the absolute best is Jen Charnow. Between the PHHS PFA, the WCL PFA, Parent Academy, the Hills Valley Coalition, and the Woodcliff Lake Stigma-Free committee, she works tirelessly to help our kids. And she’s still going! No wonder she was recently recognized as a Hometown Hero! In a world full of ‘Karens,’ be a Jen instead.”

Charnow also highlighted her collaborative work with Schwartz, stating, “I was the PHHS PFA co-president with Lee Ann for two years and worked with her on the WCL PFA for years when our kids were still in that district. It’s been an incredible journey of teamwork and dedication to our children’s well-being.”

Charnow thanked Rendo for his nomination, saying, “Your support, along with the council, Woodcliff Lake Police Department, and WCL community as a whole, means the world to me. I can’t change the world, but I can make a positive difference in my little slice of the universe. So happy I get to do it in Woodcliff Lake.”

She added, “Today was incredible! Hearing about all the wonderful things other New Jerseyans do just inspired me to go out and do even more!”

Zambrano expressed his gratitude, posting: “Honored to be one of Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s 5th District Hometown Heroes today. Leading the Westwood Shade Tree Advisory Committee wouldn’t be possible without the guidance of Councilwoman Erin Collins. Thanks for the nomination, along with Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo and the rest of the governing body, who have taken note of the importance of preserving, maintaining, and restoring our tree canopy. I give full credit for the adopt-a-drain program to the Westwood Environmental Advisory Committee! I look forward to continuing my next three-year term and elevating our borough’s tree data with a full street tree inventory. Also, thanks to Jenna Kronenberg for supporting my volunteer efforts!”

Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sheinfeld nominated Rebecca Miller Pringle for the Eightieth Annual Hometown Hero Awards. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5), center, had the pleasure of presenting 16 such awards in Mahwah on Dec. 16, 2024. Courtesy photo.

Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sheinfield celebrated Miller Pringle’s award, noting, “Stories of heroism, volunteerism, and dedication were heard throughout the morning about these brave and selfless individuals.”

Miller Pringle was joined by Brigadier Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Cindy Jebb, Bogota VFW Post 5561 Commander Alex Hernandez, Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton, and other local officials.

Sheinfield added, “Rebecca has been a public servant for decades, beginning with her time in the U.S. Army. She was honorably discharged with commendations and went on to serve with the U.S. Department of Labor. She has brought that same dedication to Hillsdale, helping countless veterans and neighbors along the way.”

Recipients from Further Afield in the Fifth District

Dr. Scott Fisher, Leonia — Dr. Fisher has served in the Army since 2009, achieving the rank of U.S. Army major, and continues to serve in the active reserves. He has worked for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and is a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he received a Bronze Star for counterterrorism activities. In addition to serving as a councilman for Leonia, he is a volunteer firefighter, police commissioner, and Office of Emergency Management liaison. Dr. Fisher is the author of two books: “Axis of Evil World Tour” and “Work Hard for the Kims.” He is also an assistant professor in the security studies department at New Jersey City University.

Lil Corcoran, Ridgewood — For the past eight years, Lil has served as the executive director of the Women’s Rights Information Center (WRIC), a life-saving nonprofit dedicated to trauma healing, career services, legal consultations, and housing assistance. Under her leadership, WRIC has dramatically expanded its programs and services, doubling its efforts during the pandemic to become the unique resource it is today. A licensed professional counselor, Lil supports individuals facing trauma, intimate partner abuse, severe grief, addiction, and more. She is also a certified equine therapist, using her love of horses to assist abuse survivors. Additionally, Lil has educated thousands of students, teachers, crisis response teams, and others, sharing her expertise to help even more people in need.

Hackensack Fire Deputy Chief John Ingallinera and the Hackensack Fire Department Fourth Platoon, Hackensack — John has served with the Hackensack Fire Department for 27 years, including more than eight years as deputy chief in charge of the Fourth Platoon. Under his leadership, the Fourth Platoon executed a high-angle rope rescue to save a woman who had fallen into a ravine after a tree branch broke. The team stabilized the victim and connected her to emergency medical care, exemplifying their expertise in specialized rescue operations.

Steve Rogers, Tenafly — Steve is the CEO of the Kaplan JCC on the Palisades, where he has worked to expand the community center. He serves on the national board of directors for the Americans for Ben-Gurion University and, since 2019, has been vice president of the board of directors for NJY Camps, an organization fostering Jewish community and identity through inclusive summer camp experiences. Appointed by Governor Christie to the New Jersey-Israel Commission, Steve has received the Temple Emanu-El Founders’ Award and the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Erich Holzer Community Service Award.

Allison Lim, Ho-Ho-Kus — Allison leads the Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden, cultivating organic produce for neighbors in need. She oversees planting, harvesting, education, tours, volunteer coordination, and donation efforts. As of November, the garden has harvested 730 pounds of produce, most of which has been donated to local nonprofits to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to those facing hunger.

Devraj Dhupar, Upper Saddle River — As co-president and founder of the Saddle River Day School chapter of the HELP Foundation, Devraj has raised nearly $50,000 over three years to support four children at an orphanage in India. Devraj has visited the ashram, tutoring and playing with the children, and shared his experiences in a presentation to raise awareness and recruit more participants for the HELP Foundation. A recipient of the HELP Foundation Outstanding Leadership Award, Devraj remains dedicated to fundraising and advocacy as he prepares for college.

Dr. Raffaele “Ralph” Bernardo, Englewood Cliffs — Dr. Bernardo spearheaded the creation of Valley Health System’s Center for LGBTQ+ Care to address the lack of specialized health care services for the LGBTQ+ community in Northern New Jersey. As medical director, he fosters a welcoming environment for patients. This year, he secured a $130,000 Women for Health grant to support the center’s mission by enhancing cultural understanding among Valley’s health care providers.

Hillary Joy Cohen, MD, MPH, Haworth — As an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Cohen has responded to countless critical situations, including heart attacks, strokes, and traumatic injuries. As chief of emergency medicine at Englewood Health, she developed protocols to improve hospital safety and mentored teams of clinicians. In 2015, she was promoted to chief medical officer. Under her leadership, Englewood Health was named a finalist for the American Hospital Association’s Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service.

Bergen County Sergeant Walter Hutchinson, New Milford — Sergeant Hutchinson, a veteran officer since 2004, received the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Departmental Award for assisting in life-saving CPR on an unresponsive child. He also coordinated efforts across multiple police departments to fulfill the Christmas wish of a 6-year-old boy with brain cancer, earning the Distinguished Member of the Year Award from the National Police Defense Foundation.

Barbara Silvia (Posthumous), Fort Lee — A member of the Fort Lee Volunteer Ambulance Squad since 1979, Barbara responded to more than 12,000 calls during her 40-year tenure. She served as chief of the corps five times and received the EMS Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Office of EMS. Barbara’s dedication to her community left an indelible mark.

Casey William Tutunjian Ference, Demarest — During the pandemic, Casey volunteered weekly for the Dumont Food Pantry, collecting donations and starting “The Gift Pantry” to provide essential items to those in need. As president of the Dwight-Englewood School Young Progressives Club, Casey promotes bipartisan dialogue with the Young Conservatives Club. Casey also founded the Northern Valley Soccer Youth Coach Program, addressing a local coaching shortage and helping high school students fulfill their volunteer hours.

Anthony “Tony” Lupardi Jr. and Mark Lupardi, Closter — Tony has responded to over 8,000 calls during his firefighting career, including at the World Trade Center and a 54-car pileup. After suffering a rare arrhythmia following a strenuous rescue, Tony was saved by the very first responders he had trained—including his brother Mark. Their dedication and lifelong service exemplify the strength of the firefighting community.

— Staff report based on a submission by Peter Figueroa, speechwriter, office of Congressman Josh Gottheimer.