WARREN COUNTY, N.J. — Warren County celebrated Older Americans Month by presenting the 2026 Mary Louise Christine Outstanding Senior Citizen Award to Allamuchy Township resident Ann LaPadula.
LaPadula was honored May 28 during a luncheon at Harkers Hollow Golf Club in Harmony Township, along with fellow nominees Bill Scurato of Phillipsburg and Frank Van Horn of Knowlton Township.
“She may be petite in stature, but her support and dedication is amazing,” one of her nominators, Candy Church, wrote in her letter of recommendation for LaPadula.
The Warren County Board of County Commissioners also presented an Older Americans Month proclamation during the event. The proclamation was accepted by Robin Ennis, chair of the Warren County Aging Services Advisory Council.
The 2026 theme for Older Americans Month is “Champion Your Health,” which focuses on prevention, wellness and personal responsibility as key parts of healthy aging.
Steve Unger, executive director of the Warren County Division of Aging and Disability Services, said the theme encourages older adults to take an active role in managing their health, seeking preventive care and making informed decisions that support independence.
The Outstanding Senior Citizen Award has been presented since 1984 and was renamed in 2007 in honor of Mary Louise Christine, an 85-year-old community activist from Washington Township who died later that year.
LaPadula’s husband, John, received the same award in 2021, making them the first married couple to both receive Warren County’s annual senior citizen recognition.
LaPadula has served on the boards of Rutherfurd Hall and the Allamuchy Senior Citizens Club, also known as OWLS. Since joining the club shortly after moving to Allamuchy in 2009, she has helped coordinate the group’s annual picnic and other events, including securing guest speakers and presenters.
Her volunteer work has also included Bunny Breakfasts, Breakfasts with Santa, Easter egg hunts, Allamuchy Day, the Shades of Death Half Marathon, the township Christmas tree lighting and caroling for homebound seniors in Panther Valley.
Scurato was recognized for more than 50 years of service through theater, education and mentorship. In 1972, he co-founded Country Gate Players, a nonprofit community theater in Belvidere that has become a fixture in Warren County’s arts community.
Van Horn, who received the Mary Louise Christine Outstanding Senior Citizen Award in 2015, was recognized for his years of volunteer service with Knowlton Fire and Rescue, the Knowlton Lions Club, the Warren County Farmers’ Fair, Warren Grange #110 and local government.
Warren County is home to more than 33,500 residents age 60 and older. County officials said they continue to support programs that promote healthy aging, independent living and access to services through the Division of Aging and Disability Services.
