Fall 2003 Edition 

Fair Lawn's Hall of Fame   If Fair Lawn were to have a Hall of Fame, who do you think should be in it?      That's what Fair Lawn News asked Mayor Ganz, Deputy Mayor Etler, Deputy Mayor Weinstein, Borough Historian Jane Diepeveen, and Fair Lawn's three candidates for Assembly (Matt Ahearn, Bob Gordon, and Ed Trawinski).  Here's what they said.   (Nominees are in italics)   Who do you think should be in Fair Lawn's Hall of Fame?   Send your thoughts and pictures to editor@fairlawnnews.com   Diane Blumberg.  President of League of Women Voters, local chapter of National Council of Jewish Women, many other Jewish organizations, PTA, Community School Council for many years.  If it was for civic good, she did it. (Historian)    Marge Bornstein was one of Fair Lawn's leading lights, serving on the Board of Education for 12 years and as President during one of our periods of school expansion. She was also a leading light at the start of the Jewish Center, and active in many Jewish organizations. Her husband, Julian, was also very active in civic and temple affairs. He served on the Borough Council. They were both honored for their services to the temple and the town.  (Historian)   Mary and Roland Burdick were a civic-minded couple. He served on The Board of Education for some time. She was a Borough Councilwoman, Mayor, Board of Education member, and League of Women Voters President.  (Historian)   Judge Morris Dobrin respected long-time local Magistrate, known for his even-handedness and compassion in dealing with cases before him.  (Historian)   Mike Canger.  Longtime Borough Engineer, First Planning Board Chair, and contributor to many causes benefiting Fair Lawn. (Historian)   Roger Carlton started the Fair Lawn Radio Club. He taught radio and TV electronics to a succession of boys and set many of them on the road to college.  (Historian)   Officer Mary Ann Collura.  In simple obedience to duty, sacrificed all for the community she loved.  (Ahearn, Trawinski)   John Cosgrove for his dedication to the fire services.  John Cosgrove should be in the Hall of Fame because of all his years of volunteer service to the Borough. He served as one of the leaders of Fair Lawn’s 75th anniversary committee. The activities were an overwhelming success. John Cosgrove continues to offer his time to our youth and to many other Fair Lawn needs. Mr. Cosgrove is a Fair Lawn icon and symbolizes Fair Lawn’s strong community of volunteers. His years of service on the Fire Department speak for themselves. (Weinstein, Etler)   Florence (Flossie) Dobrow:   Her commitment to Fair Lawn was overwhelming through her 26 years in office. Mrs. Dobrow set the bar for all governmental leaders. Aside from her tangible achievements such as the development of the Senior Citizen Center and the Dobrow Sports Complex, most of her achievements were on the personal level of constituent services. She was committed to helping everyone, and did!  In her service  as a member of the Council, Deputy Mayor and Mayor, in the 70's, 80's and 90's, she had a memorable impact on the entire community. The Dobrow Sports Complex is a tribute to her. The guidelines for signs, for property maintenance and the River Road special improvement district are a tribute to her. (Mayor, Historian, Deputy Mayor Etler, Ahearn, Weinstein).     Flossie was first elected to the Borough Council in 1974, and served on Fair Lawn’s governing body until 2001.  She held elective office longer than any other woman in New Jersey history.  She had a profound impact on the community and on all who served with her, myself included.  She was my political mentor when I first got involved in politics.  She oversaw the creation and building of the Senior Center, she upgraded Fair Lawn’s utilities and recreational facilities, was the catalyst for the River Road project and the municipal beautification effort and, as the town’s representative to the Community Development Program, brought millions of federal dollars into the Borough.  (Gordon)   Nick Felice was Councilman, Mayor, and Assemblyman for many years.  He secured the site for the Cadmus House when it was moved and was an active member of the organization that runs the museum for many years.    (Historian)    John Hoitsma  for 40 years of service to the fire department.  (Deputy Mayor Etler)   Richard Lustgarten. For 19 years, the Borough Attorney of Fair Lawn has had a quiet but significant influence on councils that were non-partisan, democratic and republican majorities. A wise counsel and a fine attorney, he has guided each council in a way that is consistently good for the benefit of the borough and its residents, where he also resides. He has raised his family in this community and has raised several counsels, too. (Mayor)    Kay Lyle.  Fair Lawn's first Councilwoman, also champion of many projects and laws for civic improvement.  Founded Fair Lawn League of Women Voters in 1937 and was its first President.  Served on Planning Board in 1939 and served as its (unpaid) Secretary. She left the Board in 1947 to run for the Council. She was one of the leaders in bringing the non-partisan Council Manager government to Fair Lawn. She was also active in the group that persuaded the Borough to open what is now  Memorial Pool. This group did volunteer labor to clear the beach, install the diving boards, solicit contributions, etc..  (Historian)   Henry "Pop" Milnes founded the Boys Club and was its leader during most of its life. This was an  important institution, providing a recreation center and guidance from Milnes and his wife.  (Historian)   Tom Metzler for emergency services.  Tom Metzler was honored this year by the Knights of Pythias. He was a volunteer firefighter and continues to go beyond the call of duty to Fair Lawn and its residents. Mr. Metzler is a visionary and has helped make Fair Lawn's Office of Emergency Management the premier OEM in Bergen County.  He was instrumental in the coordination of the Borough’s cooperative agreements with Paramus and Ridgewood; the inception of Reverse 911, which recently worked flawlessly during the Blackout of 2003.(Deputy Mayor Weinstein, Deputy Mayor Etler)   Dr. Maurice Pine.  Everyone called him "Piney".  Started the Library and worked for its expansion and betterment for many years. (Historian)   Robert A. Smith (first Mayor of Fair Lawn).  Along with the early Fire and Police Chiefs, and councilmen (William Croucher, Richard Shortway, Andrew E. Fox, James Hyslop,  Garret Houtsma, William Hill), these men were among the founders of the borough. (Historian)   Richard Vander Platt.  Councilman, and Mayor for many years.  On State Board that was in charge of institutions; he worked for disabled children. (Historian, Deputy Mayor Etler) Albert Rosen, M.D..  Dr. Rosen, it seems, was everyone’s pediatrician.  For thousands of kids in Fair Lawn, he was the doctor who helped us (and our mothers) through the illnesses of childhood.  Visiting Dr. Rosen’s office on Fair Lawn Avenue was always a treat.  In his backyard he had pet goats and all sorts of exotic animals.  It was like a small version of the Catskill Game Farm.  Dr. Rosen and his late wife, Shirley, were also avid hikers.  They climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa and most of the major peaks on the East Coast.  In his spare time, Dr. Rosen wrote a book on medical care for hikers..  He also was the driving force behind the pediatrics program at Valley Hospital.  (Gordon) Daniel A. Rothermel.  Dan Rothermel, who now lives in Pompton Plains, was a long-time Radburn resident and served 31 years as the guidance counselor, Vice Principal and Principal of Fair Lawn High School.  He was honored this summer at a joint reunion of the FLHS classes of 1966, 1967 and 1968.  He made Fair Lawn High into one of the great public schools in New Jersey.  During the years 1965 to 1975, while he was principal, FLHS had 53 students scored perfect 800s on their SATs, a record never repeated in any other community during any time period.  We also had a great athletic program.  During Dan Rothermel’s tenure the Fair Lawn Cutters had numerous undefeated seasons, thanks in part to Bruce Jankowski, who went on to play with Ohio State and the NFL.  (Gordon) Monte Weed.  In 1949, he was appointed Superintendent of Recreation and served the borough for 25 years.  The Recreation Program became a national model for innovation and organization.  He was an outstanding  Recreation Department head who greatly expanded the Borough's recreation opportunities and facilities.  (Historian)