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Community Corner

Two Bernards Residents Named 'Outstanding Women'

Carleen Kelly and Dr. Adrian Gaito recognized by Somerset County.

Nineteen outstanding women of Somerset County were saluted Friday night at the 20th annual awards dinner sponsored by the county’s Commission on the Status of Women.

This year’s field of honorees was selected from more than 60 nominees in categories such as government, business, arts/entertainment, athletics, education, law, entrepreneur, medicine and public service.

“What incredible women we have here in Somerset County,” Commission Chairwoman Paula Marasco said. “Each in their own right makes such amazing contributions. I’m so proud of all of you women.”

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In conjunction with the event, the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders has designated March as Women’s Issues Month in the county.

Congressman Leonard Lance added his congratulations and recalled that his mother was the first woman from her family to attend college.

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“As many lessons I learned from my father, I learned an equal number from my mother,” he told the gathering at The Imperia in Somerset.

The honoree in the Business/Management category was Carleen Kelly, of Basking Ridge. President of Surge Worldwide Healthcare Communications at Corbett AccelGroup New York and managing director of Accel Health, Kelly has more than 25 years of healthcare and managed-care marketing experience.

“I’m receiving this award because I do something I love to do every day,” she told the crowd. “I really love what I do. I think the pharmaceutical industry has been a great place to work.”

Dr. Adrian Gaito, MD, FACR, of Bernards, was recognized in the Medicine/Health Services category. In addition to her practice in Basking Ridge, Gaito is a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of Lyme disease and one of the founders of the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society.

“I’m so impressed by all the accomplishment of all the women. It is inspiring to young women. The status of women in medicine has changed. When I was an intern women made up 7 percent; now its 52 percent,” she explained.

Recipient of the honor in the Athletics/Sports category was Christine Schneider, of Bridgewater. For Schneider, serving as the township’s recreation superintendent is a 24/7 lifestyle year-round, directing the many recreational services available to Bridgewater residents.

“I do what I love,” she said, noting she started the job just out of college and “I’m still here.”

Allison Caulfield, of Bridgewater, a volunteer who has held various positions with Somerville FISH for 22 years, was recognized as a Hometown Hero. Caulfield also serves as a tutor with Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County.

“If there’s anything I learned in the last 22 years it’s that we live in this world together. We share the responsibility together. It’s my honor to accept this award in the name of Somerville FISH and Literacy Volunteers, the two organizations that have changed my life.”  

Bridgewater resident Dr. Barbara Ronca, Ph.D./LCSW, was honored in the Medicine/Health Services category. A licensed psychotherapist who has practiced in the area for almost 30 years, noted that March is Women’s History Month and National Social Work Month and acknowledged the accomplishments of women who have come before.

“They were given the same number of hours per day that all of us have and look what they have accomplished,” she said.

She explained that she works to facilitate change in others by helping people help themselves. Offering free support groups is “my way to give,” she said.

“Every day is new. Every story is different. What’s the same are the emotions we all share. We are all outstanding in our own way and we all deserve to share in this award tonight,” Ronca said.

The youngest honoree was 18-year-old Nicole D’Angelo, of Warren, who was recognized in the Arts/Entertainment category. Studying piano since age 5, the freshman at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University also plays flute, oboe, clarinet, cello and bassoon and participated in numerous musical activities at .

“Music and autism have had a profound effect on my life,” she told the audience. She hopes to use music and educational curriculum to help autistic children and educate the public, she added.

D'Angelo, who has received the Aspiring Young Artist award, gives lessons to seven students and volunteers for Special Olympics, admitted she was surprised to have been nominated.

“The other nominees have been working longer than I’ve been alive,” she laughed.

Fellow Warren resident Suzann B. Goldstein was honored in the Public Service category. A medical sociologist, Goldstein acknowledged her husband Ed, saying, “together we have shared our public service goals.”

“Lost loved ones have played a very important role on this path to public service,” she added, starting with her brother, who died at age 27.

“By his example in his short life he told me to feel concern for others, avoid self-pity.” Annual donations to his Hebrew School “comforted me,” she said.

In 1976, the couple started the Valerie Fund in memory of their daughter Valerie, who died of bone cancer. Today, the Valerie Fund supports seven children’s centers throughout the state and one in New York. When daughter Stacey, who Goldstein described as “a model for living life as fully as possible,” died of breast cancer in 2001 at age 37, they endowed the Stacy Goldstein Breast Cancer Center at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Among the bedrock of public service is what Goldstein called “the voices of our loved ones. … When we give we also receive.”

Hometown Hero Joanne Liscovitz, of Hillsborough, was honored for her role in the annual “Ribbons of Hope” charity event, which raises funds to help those financially struggling because of their battle with cancer. Last year, “Ribbons of Hope” raised $45,000 for “Dance for the Cure,” an organization she founded with her friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“My recognition here is really the result of so many volunteers who make Ribbons of Hope possible every year,” Liscovitz said.

Other honorees included:

Arts/Entertainment: Debbie Kirsch, of Bernardsville, president of Hexagon Players of Mendham and active in the Mendham Middle School’s annual musical

Education: Aida-Janet Wahba of Somerville, a teacher in the Somerville school system and volunteer in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program

Entrepreneur: Dr. Diana Kramer, of Bernardsville, founder of Kramer Consulting Solutions, Inc. more than 25 years ago

Environmental Initiatives: Sherry Frawley, of Bernardsville, a member of the Environmental Commission since 1991 and its chair since 2001

Government/Public Service: Raritan Borough Councilwoman Stefanie J. Gara

Government/Public Service: Kathleen O’Brien, of Branchburg, former Somerset County Department of Human Services administrator, with 25 years of service

Hometown Hero: Patti-Sofran-Herrling, of Franklin, who has focused on bringing a sense of community pride to her hometown, serves on several committees and created the first Canalfest in East Millstone

Law: Susan R. Rubright, Esq. of Gladstone, who is highly regarded in municipal land use law and served on the county’s Office of Aging Advisory Council

Social Services: Katie Meyler, of Bernardsville, who founded the charitable organization “More Than Me” to assist impoverished children throughout the world

Volunteerism: Barbara Marchio, of Gladstone, an officer of Friends of the Shelter, which supports the Resource Center of Somerset County

Volunteerism: Nancy Yuzuik, of Bound Brook, ambassador for Operation Jersey Cares, which supports troops and veterans

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