U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) honored local first responders, veterans, life-saving bystanders, volunteers, community leaders, and residents during his Fifth District Hometown Heroes Ceremony, held at the Hackensack Performing Arts Center July 22.
Gottheimer honored more than 35 residents as Fifth District Hometown Heroes, including from Emerson, Park Ridge, and Westwood, to acknowledge their dedication to helping improve the lives of their neighbors, families, and communities.
“We are lucky to have so many unsung heroes in our communities here today, whose quiet power of service goes on every day without the recognition they truly deserve. They just do it because they care. Today is their day,” he said.
From the Pascack Valley, the July 2022 Fifth District Hometown Hero Award honorees included:
- Megan Ackers Smith, Emerson, church pantry volunteer.
- Shaun Hutchinson, Park Ridge, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan in special operations, who is now the Bergen County Division director of Veterans Affairs, where he runs a hire-a-vet program, provides transportation to Veterans Affairs medical centers, and helps fellow veterans cut through red tape to access transitional housing and support resources.
- Daniel Ricciardella, Westwood, a lifelong North Jersey resident and LiUNA Local 79 member, who was stuck in traffic on the George Washington Bridge when he saw a person exit their car and climb over the railing. He was able to grab them as they let go of the bridge, telling the person “there is always another way” — helping save the person’s life.
- Teri Capparelli, Westwood, a 20-year resident who helps nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity, building a home recently for a deserving veteran and his family; running Women Build to bring together women to volunteer and break barriers; and, during the pandemic, she led Desks for Homes, delivering desks to students in need.
- Chris Illescas, Westwood, a U.S. Army veteran who was deployed to Kuwait, who serves in the Army National Guard, and who helped save the life of a car crash victim after witnessing the crash on the Garden State Parkway. A Bergen County Veteran of the Week, he also volunteered to deliver thousands of COVID-19 vaccines at the Meadowlands site, works with Habitat for Humanity, and serves as vice commander at Lodi American Legion Post 136 and quartermaster at Lodi VFW Post 5082.
- John Clark, Westwood, who realized during the pandemic how many people run by his house every day, so he made a point to make sure he and his wife waved to all of them, even during cold winter months. As time went on, the town grew to know John and his house as the nice community member that would always say hi. His “followers” started beeping and honking, stopping to chat, and a few even stopped to give him ice cream.
- Bryan Wiescenski, Westwood — This Teaneck Fire Department lieutenant committed countless hours towards fire safety education in Westwood and throughout the greater community. Member of the Teaneck Fire Department honor guard and color guard and has even performed at minor league baseball games and for the Giants at Metlife stadium. Committee chair for the Teaneck Fire Department uniform specs committee, Fire Department’s Turnout Gear committee chair. Selected as Firefighter of the Year by the Teaneck FMBA Local 242, where he is a member, and by the Teaneck Chamber of Commerce in 2017. Auxiliary police officer with Teaneck Police Department for five years, Westwood senior captain at Westwood Volunteer Fire Department, and a training officer at Westwood Volunteer Fire Department.
Also winning:
- Search & Rescue K-9 Remi, Maywood, Bergen County’s first K-9 bloodhound, which had more than 300 saves, made a name for herself by finding a missing 13-year-old, outperforming some of the latest drone technology and helicopters. Remi’s handler, Detective Christopher Nichols, accepted the award on her behalf.
- Regina & Dimitri Viadro, Glen Rock, Ukraine fundraisers and volunteers.
- Dr. Matthew Murphey, Ridgewood, retiring superintendent of the Ramsey Public Schools.
- Jeff Pavell, Haworth, chief of rehabilitation medicine at Englewood Hospital, and president of the Haworth 5K.
- Dianna Morrison, Sussex Borough, Sussex County — community activist and volunteer.
- George Carter, Oradell — posthumous — who was a 60+ year resident focused on serving his community, by reading to elementary students and local schools, serving with the Oradell Swim Club, Oradell Zoning Board, and Oradell Library, and serving as master of ceremonies for Memorial Day festivals, Fourth of July parades, and Sept. 11 services.
- Ellen Meixner, Vernon, Sussex County — supported elderly residents throughout the pandemic.
- Anne Brenneke, Waldwick — a nurse celebrating 50 years of service at Valley Health System; established Valley’s first outpatient ostomy clinic — the only nurse-run outpatient facility of its kind in Northern New Jersey.
- Sam Doran and Maclane “Mac” Doran, New Milford and River Edge — two brothers, both police officers. Mac, with the River Edge Police Department, helped rescue a troubled 14-year-old who began drowning after jumping in the Hackensack River and who was then taken to a hospital for treatment. Two months later, Sam, with the New Milford Police Department, found the same teenager sitting on the New Bridge Road Bridge railing, and talked for more than half an hour, helped calm them down, and turned a fist bump into an opportunity to pull the teen down and off the railing to safety.
- Dee Gillen, Haworth, works to reduce addiction and overdoses; in 2019, she started the Black Poster Project.
- Thomas Jung, Old Tappan, life member and chief of the Old Tappan Volunteer Fire Department.
- Allen Weitzman, Fair Lawn. Vietnam War veteran, architect, community problem solver.
- Edward Clark, Oakland, community servant with focus on tree canopy.
- Vincent Vicari, Mahwah, board member of the North New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and regional director of the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at Ramapo College. Winner of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association’s Executive of the Year Award 2021.
- Raymond Cordts, Augusta, Sussex County — posthumous — known as Mr. Sussex County. Accomplished musician, he studied under the first seat clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera and played for the New Jersey All-State Band. President of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce in 1993, and as the director, secretary, and treasurer of the Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative. Worked in many nonprofit positions, such as at the SCARC Foundation, which helps those with developmental disabilities. Recognized with awards like the SCARC Distinguished Citizen and the Boy Scouts of America Patriot’s Path Distinction.
- Chris Wyman, Vernon, Sussex County — U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War era. Member of the Wallkill Valley Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1002, he presents “Honoring a Veteran” at high schools and libraries, and he has been recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service for his work in the Double V Rod & Gun Club, helping disabled veterans.
- Timothy Erstling, Upper Saddle River, focused on community policing. During Hurricane Ida, rescued 24 flood-stranded motorists.
Heroes who were not able to attend include:
- Dre Gibbs (posthumous award), Wyckoff coach.
- Larry Inserra, Mahwah, business owner
- Bob Cook, Alpine, BergenPac board.
- Anthony Mobilio, Lodi police lieutenant.
- Susan Zabransky, Saddle River, organized memorial run for daughter
- Mary Jo Harris, Washington Borough, Warren County, Volunteer and on BID.
- Kenneth O’Donnell, Bogota, police officer.
- Carol Greene, Mahwah, historian.
- Anthony Pall, Branchville, Sussex County, NJ state trooper.
- Julio Rodriguez, Vernon, Sussex County, NJ state trooper.
- Alex Helmer, Allendale, police officer.
Video of the Fifth District Hometown Heroes Awards ceremony can be found at Gottheimer’s Facebook page.
>Shaun Hutchinson of Park Ridge, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan in special operations, and who now is the Bergen County Division director of Veterans Affairs, is a Fifth District Hometown Hero.