Gottheimer hosts Fifth District ‘Hometown Heroes’ awards

NORTH JERSEY — Following the Pennsylvania assassination attempt, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) Monday called for unity and honored unsung, local life-saving first responders, veterans, volunteers, community leaders, and residents during his Fifth District Hometown Heroes Ceremony, held at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee.

Gottheimer honored more than twenty community leaders as Fifth District Hometown Heroes to acknowledge their dedication to helping improve the lives of their neighbors, families, and communities

Among many other heroes, Gottheimer honored John Pecoraro, who helped remove rubble from the World Trade Center on 9/11 and has served for more than fifty years on the Paramus Rescue Squad; Kate Duggan, CEO of Family Promise of Bergen County, whose organization has served more than 250,000 meals to families in need over the past four years and helped families facing housing insecurity; and Matthew Letizia, a distinguished emergency medicine physician who coordinated more than forty blood drives to support people with blood cancers like his late father.

Gottheimer opened the event by condemning the disgraceful political violence against former President Trump that occurred on July 13th in Butler, Pennsylvania: “We cannot allow this depraved act of political violence to extinguish our nation’s hope. On Saturday, I felt hope when I saw our law enforcement heroes work to restore order and protect everyone on the ground. I felt hope when I saw our country’s leaders stand united against violence and extremism. And, I felt hope when I saw everyday Americans set aside their political differences and put our country first.”

“If you look hard enough, you can see incredible stories of hope in our communities everyday: the EMT who has saved countless lives and volunteered decades of service and the young student going above and beyond to help her fellow classmates. Even in the face of our country’s challenges, we need to spend more time showcasing all of the good that happens every day — and recognizing what it means to be a great citizen in the greatest country in the world. Today, we are here to highlight those from across North Jersey who are hard-wired to help others,” Gottheimer said.

Below is a list of the Hometown Heroes:

• Lisa and Ashley Holl, Montvale — In February, Lisa and Ashley noticed smoke emanating from a neighbor’s windows and attic vents. Lisa rescued her elderly neighbor from the home, even though she wasn’t sure the home’s floor would hold. Beyond their heroic rescue, Lisa and Ashley help North Jersey residents every day by working in healthcare. Lisa has worked at Montvale’s Spine and Health Center for the past twelve years, and Ashley works as the scheduling coordinator for the Mental Health Association in Montclair. In addition to her day job, Lisa volunteers for Baking Memories 4 Kids, baking cookies every holiday season that help pay for terminally ill children to go to Disney and other theme parks in Orlando.

• Jerry Weiner, Fair Lawn — Over the past five decades, Jerry has worked around the clock to serve his faith community, local schools, and more. In 1968, he joined the Fair Lawn Jewish Center, also known as Congregation B’nai Sholom, and has helped lead the Congregation for decades. Jerry spent seven terms as President until 2015 and continues to sit on the board until today. At the same time, Jerry was an elected member of the Fair Lawn Board of Education from 1976 to 1993, spending seven years as president. Today, Jerry serves as secretary for both Fair Lawn Access for All and the Benjamin N. Cardozo Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, which he has belonged to since 1977. In addition to his volunteer work, Jerry was a teacher and school administrator in Englewood Schools for forty years. For his steadfast community service, Jerry has been recognized as the 2010 Mensch of the Year by Congregation B’nai Sholom and Citizen of the Year by the Knights of Pythias. In 2015, he was bestowed with the title of “Sir” by the Benjamin N. Cardozo Lounge after attaining the highest rank of “Knight of the Golden Spur.”

• Nina Larson, Park Ridge — Nina has served as the CEO of Bergen Volunteers since September 2020, a social service agency that supports youth, seniors, and families across the county, including homebound residents. Nina successfully navigated the Volunteers through the COVID-19 pandemic and expanded key programs like the CHORE senior repair and Bergen LEADS civic training programs. Before leading the Volunteers, Nina was an arts administrator, serving in leadership roles at both Kaplen JCC on the Palisades and BergenPAC. In both roles, she championed arts accessibility, launching music scholarships and free arts programs for lower-income Bergen County residents. Beyond her nonprofit career, Nina serves on the boards of beloved community institutions like HACPAC and Flat Rock Brook Nature Center. Two years ago, Nina was recognized for her incredible commitment to service with the Governor’s Volunteerism Award Medal of Honor.

• Marc Fedorchak, Westwood — Marc joined the Oradell Police Department in 1999 and served for twenty-five years, first as an officer, then as a detective beginning in 2011, and finally as a detective sergeant between 2018 and 2024. During his police career, he received numerous PBA awards and the Bergen County Police Chiefs Award. Even in retirement, he serves as a Cresskill Special Three Police Officer. Marc is a thirty-two-year veteran of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department. He spent several years in the Department’s leadership, serving as chief from 2009 to 2010 and now, as secretary on Westwood’s Board of Fire Officers. Marc instituted a first responder health screening program, which helped detect a firefighter’s throat cancer, and helped convince Westwood to put defibrillators on its field after saving a referee’s life. Back in 2022, Marc was inducted into the Westwood Fire Department Hall of Fame by Mayor Raymond Arroyo.

• Linda Albelli, Closter — From 2001 to 2006, Linda served two terms on the Closter Borough Council. During that time, she gave back to the Borough as Council President, Board of Education Liaison, and Chair of the Department of Public Works. Since exiting public office, Linda continues to be an engaged community leader, serving as Co-Chair of the 9/11 Memorial in Closter and Past President of the Ladies of the Knickerbocker Hook and Ladder Company. Linda also completely transformed Closter Seniors, adding art programs, exercise, yoga, mahjong, bingo, and more. She helps coordinate an appreciation luncheon with Closter Seniors to recognize DPW for their contributions to the borough. Because of her programming, the senior center is open almost every day and serves more than 150 members.

• Lisbelt Torres, River Edge — For the past eight years, Lisbelt has served in the River Edge Volunteer Ambulance Service or REVAS, six of which she has served as an officer: a first lieutenant from 2018-2020, a captain in 2021, and now, as second lieutenant since 2022. She provided critical care to her community during the height of the pandemic and has even delivered life-saving CPR to a young woman experiencing an overdose. Lisbelt’s gone above and beyond to grow REVAS by recruiting and enrolling new volunteers. In 2021, River Edge Mayor Thomas Papaleo recognized her incredible contributions to REVAS and the Hispanic community with a proclamation for National Hispanic Heritage Month. By day, Lisbelt works as an occupational therapist in underserved communities in the Bronx, doing both home care services and early intervention for children under three.

• Kate Duggan, Oradell — For the past fourteen years, Kate has served as the Executive Director of Family Promise of Bergen County. At Family Promise, Kate oversees a program for working families who are experiencing housing insecurity or have become homeless — with the goal of empowering them to become economically independent. Since 2020, Family Promise has provided relief and temporary housing to more than 400 families and distributed more than $300,000 in homeless prevention funding to needy mothers and children. The organization has also served more than 250,000 meals to Bergen County residents facing hunger at its Walk-In Dinner program in Hackensack over the past four years — and 1.4 million meals since 1991. Family Promise has been named one of 201 Magazine’s Best Nonprofits in Bergen County. In addition to her work on Family Promise, Kate is a member of the Homeless Trust Fund Task Force and the Advisory Board for the Office for Children and has been named a Woman of Influence by the YWCA.

• Stephen Morena and Aundra Ellington, Teaneck — On January 2nd, Sergeant Morena and Officer Ellington responded to the scene of a fire, after an appliance set a fifth-story apartment in flames. They raced up the stairs and saved the person inside, an eighty-eight-year-old wheelchair user. Because of their life-saving effort, they prevented the resident’s oxygen tank from exploding. The Officers stayed at the scene and helped stabilize the scene for the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps. For their incredible bravery, Sergeant Morena and Officer Ellington were given a Life Saving Award and were inducted into the 200 Club.

• John Pecoraro, Paramus — In 1973, John joined the Paramus Rescue Squad after witnessing a rescue firsthand at the local Grand Union Supermarket. He’s served in the rescue squad for more than fifty years, even leading as chief from 1995 through 2009 and 2014 through 2022.  John showed up to help in America’s darkest hour — 9/11 — to help remove rubble from the World Trade Center from noon to midnight, and then, showed up the next day to continue search and rescue. In addition to his work on the rescue squad, John has served in the Paramus Emergency Medical Services since 1978, ultimately attaining the rank of Captain. He has spent the past twenty-five years training the next generation of first responders at the Bergen County Emergency Training Center in Paramus meaning his dedication will go on to save countless more lives. John has been recognized for his fifty years of service by the Borough of Paramus and Bergen County. Last year, local officials officially designated June 27th as “John Pecoraro Day.”

• Rebecca Wright, Linda Geremia, Evelyn Montes-Hernandez, David GaNung, Tyler Miller, and Dylan Mann, Newton — Rebecca, Linda, Evelyn, Dylan, Tyler, and David all serve as healthcare professionals at Newton Medical Center’s Emergency Department, helping patients recover after some of the most challenging injuries. They’ve stood out as exceptional, compassionate healthcare professionals who go above and beyond to keep patients safe and help them heal. During the Easter holiday, Rebecca, Linda, Dylan, and Evelyn were taking care of a pediatric behavioral health patient who had been boarded up in the emergency department for two weeks. They wanted to do something to lift the boy’s spirits and make Easter special, so they set up an Easter egg hunt in the behavioral health courtyard. The young patient was ecstatic. Tyler and David helped accompany the patient through the hunt and made the day one to remember. Their compassionate act of service created memories that will last a lifetime.

• Howard Burrell, Vernon Township — Howard is a veteran, higher education professional, and engaged community leader in Sussex County. Howard served eleven years in the Air Force with assignments in Guam, Turkey, and bases across America, ultimately attaining the rank of Major. After leaving the Air Force, Howard attained his doctorate in psychology and embarked on a career in higher education, working as an assistant director in the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, special assistant to the President of Felician University, and an adjunct professor in social sciences at Centenary University. He is a dedicated public servant, having served as the Mayor of Vernon from 2020 to 2024 and Commissioner of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission since 2013. He continues to give back to the military community as a member of Rep. Gottheimer’s Fifth District Service Academy Nomination Selection Committee, the local Selective Service System Board for New Jersey, and a trustee for the Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Finally, Howard supports local nonprofits and institutions of higher learning, including Centenary, the Sussex County Community College, and Ginnie’s House Children’s Advocacy Center, which provides therapy and family assistance to survivors of child abuse.

• Matthew Letizia, Mahwah — Matthew is a distinguished emergency medicine physician who has devoted the majority of his career to pre-hospital medicine —the emergency response before a patient makes it to the ER. He is the medical director for approximately forty emergency agencies throughout New Jersey, helping them organize everything from ocean rescue to EMS training to law enforcement responses. Five years ago, Matthew’s father, Gary was diagnosed with Leukemia. After a brave year-long battle, he ultimately lost his fight against cancer. But, throughout his fight, he relied on blood donors. Since losing his father, Matthew has made it his mission to increase awareness about blood donation and expand the blood supply. Three years ago, he held the first Gary Letizia Memorial Blood Drive. These drives have taken off since then: two years ago, he ran two additional drives. Matthew ran fourteen successful drives in 2023, and they’re on track to hold 37 more this coming year. Over the past two years, Matthew and his fellow volunteers have collected 166 gallons of blood. For his heroic work, Matthew has received some of the highest awards in emergency medicine: 2018 NJDHS EMS Physician of the Year, 2021 National EMS Physician of the Year from the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, 2023 National EMS NAEMT Medical Director of the Year, and 2023 Director’s Award National Conference on EMS.

• James (Jim) Gordon, Closter — Jim served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966 as a Military Intelligence Order of Battle Analyst. After returning home, he became a police officer, protecting the communities of Demarest and Closter for more than forty years before retiring as a lieutenant in 2007. In 1992, he was actually recognized by the IRS for helping with a criminal investigation. On top of his service as an officer, he served as President of the Northern Valley PBA. In addition to his law enforcement career, Jim has been the backbone of the Closter Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Corps. Since joining the Corps in April 1969, he has answered more than 10,000 calls to add his fellow community members. Jim is also a volunteer firefighter, who was named Fireman of the Year in 2010. His service has been recognized with a Distinguished Citizen Award from the Closter Elks Lounge, a Distinguished Service Award from Knights of Columbus, recognitions from Hackensack and Englewood Hospitals, and election in 2019 to the Borough of Closter’s Wall of Fame. Last year, Jim served as the Grand Marshall of Closter’s Memorial Day Parade.

• Dan Olivier & Andy Scallo, Westwood — Dan and Andy sit on the Westwood Planning Board and serve in the Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps. In addition to their service to the town, the duo has worked together to create a second 9/11 monument in Westwood. Andy is a union ironworker who worked “The Pile” after 9/11, the large mass of debris and rubble that formed following the collapse of the Twin Towers. He and his fellow ironworkers carved crosses into the steel beams as a sign of hope and faith. In 2022, Andy approached Daniel, asking to donate one of those steel sections that he salvaged to the town’s Veterans Park. It would memorialize the hard work of ironworkers and first responders who sacrificed their health to help our nation recover after 9/11. They assembled a team of volunteers and local employees from Westwood’s Department of Public Works to move the steel segment to Daniel’s house. They spent months mocking up a design for the memorial and assembling it at Veterans Park. Today, that steel segment sits in Veterans Park with a bronze plaque from Westwood PD to memorialize those who worked so hard and so long to find our people. The memorial is the site of Westwood’s annual 9/11 memorial service, which was coordinated by the late “Skip” Kelley, who we honored as a Hometown Hero last year.

• Joseph Powderley, Mahwah — In June 2023, Joseph transferred to Mahwah Police Department after four years of service in Demarest. On one of his first solo patrols with Mahwah PD, Officer Powderley was dispatched to the home of Richard Bernstein, a Grammy-winning Opera singer and Metropolitan Opera veteran. Moments after Joseph arrived, Richard stopped breathing and began turning blue. Officer Powderley immediately recognized that Richard was experiencing cardiac arrest and saved his life with a combination of a defibrillator, oxygen, and chest compressions. Thankfully, Richard made a full recovery, and he’s back to doing what he loves: entertaining audiences with the gift of music. In September, Richard had the opportunity to thank Officer Joseph Powderley in person with his wife. Mahwah Police Department also recognized his heroism with a Life Saving Award.

• Dr. Stephen Angeli, Teaneck — Dr. Stephen Angeli is a cardiologist at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck. In July 2023, Kyle Hewlett was admitted to Holy Name’s cardiac unit after experiencing extreme fatigue. Dr. Angeli, who was on rotation at the time, diagnosed him with myocarditis, a viral infection that causes heart inflammation, and admitted him. Unfortunately, Kyle’s condition began to deteriorate, and by the middle of the night, he developed ventricular tachycardia. After six unsuccessful defibrillator rounds, Dr. Angeli and his team performed 90 minutes worth of CPR, swapping out when fatigue set in. After the CPR, Dr. Angeli executed a complex procedure, cardiac catheterization, to keep blood flowing and ultimately, save Kyle’s life. Kyle is healthy and now works with his mom, Gina, to spread awareness about the importance of CPR at schools across North Jersey. In mid-May, they traveled to D.C. to advocate for CPR education in Congress. Beyond his life-saving efforts with Kyle, Dr. Angeli has won the Humanitarian Award for his work on the Korean Medical Program at Holy Name Medical Center

• Dillon Rinaldo (Posthumous), Fair Lawn — Firefighting was in Dillon’s DNA. As a toddler, he had turn-out gear at the base of his bed and would listen to his father’s fire radio so he could try to respond to calls with his father. He and his best friends took turns pulling their red wagon “fire truck” and saving the very lucky citizens of their imaginary world. He joined his father for many years as a volunteer on Fair Lawn’s Company Four Engine. In 2017, Dillon became a full-time firefighter with the Baltimore City Fire Department.He served the people of Baltimore honorably for four years, graduating as valedictorian of his training class and advancing to lieutenant of Engine 46 in July 2022. On October 19, 2023, he was mortally injured in the line of duty, and ultimately, passed away on October 24th. Upon his passing, he was promoted to Captain in recognition of his sterling service.

• Dr. Kenneth Hoffman (Posthumous), Teaneck — An oncologist, Dr. Hoffman devoted his entire life to saving lives and helping people heal. Dr. Hoffman balanced his medical career with constant service to the township of Teaneck. He was the longtime president of Teaneck’s Junior Soccer League, Chair of the Township’s Playgrounds, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Chair of the Municipal Open Space Trust Advisory Board, and a longtime member of the Environmental Commission. Dr. Hoffman was an absolute force who worked around the clock to make sports accessible for every kid in Teaneck. Dr. Hoffman was the singular force behind building the Township’s sportsplex and field house. He ensured that no child would ever be turned away from playing soccer, even if their parents couldn’t afford the fees. Dr. Hoffman also created a college scholarship program for Teaneck High School students who volunteered to coach recreational soccer. Teaneck has honored his incredible contributions by naming the Township’s soccer field after him: “Hoffman’s Pitch at Votee Sportsplex.”

• Mayor Paul Hoelscher (Posthumous), Harrington Park — Paul served as the Mayor of Harrington Park for more than thirty years and touched countless lives along the way. He was also an educator by trade who taught government at Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls for more than thirty years. As Mayor, Paul went above and beyond to celebrate and connect with his community members, be it a Girl Scout Meeting, a parade, or a graduation. He helped mothers in need and mentored Korean-American youth in Harrington Park, including now-Councilwoman Joon Chung. Paul’s tremendous service to his community and his constituents was recognized in 2012, when he was inducted into the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ Mayor’s Hall of Fame and again in 2017, when he was inducted into the League’s Elected Officials Hall of Fame. In addition to his Mayoral service, he found time to serve as President of the Bergen County Mayor’s Organization and be an active member in the Lions Club Highland Park, Highland Park Club 60, Highland Park Historical Society, the Bergen County Joint Insurance Fund, and the League of Municipalities.