NORTH BRUNSWICK — Rounding out a year jam-packed with honorary street namings for veterans was the dedication of Dewey Road and Park Terrace as Farella Sr. Way and Ottawa Street and Arlington Avenue as Carolan Way on Oct. 17.
Ralph Farella Sr. was born Oct. 25, 1928, in New York City. He moved to North Brunswick at an early age with his family and attended school in town.
Prior to graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II on Feb. 7, 1946. He was a Seaman 1st Class who served at the U.S. Training Station, Bainbridge, Maryland, aboard the USS Washington.
He was honorably discharged on Dec. 9, 1947, from the U.S. Naval Station in Green Cove Springs, Florida. He received the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal for his service.
After the Navy, Farella began building homes in North Brunswick, including the Park Terrace development where he lived.
He served on the Board of Education for years and became a building code enforcement officer for the township.
Prior to his passing on Sept. 27, 2013, he was awarded his high school diploma from Gov. Christine Todd Whitman for his dedication and World War II service.
James Joseph Carolan Jr. was born on May 1, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. He lived in Highland Park as a young boy and attended St. Paul’s Grammar School and St. Peter’s High School in New Brunswick.
At the age of 21, Carolan enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a Specialist 4th Class. During his service in the Vietnam War, he helped build an airport in Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam and received the Vietnam Service Medal. He was honorably discharged from the Army on May 25, 1966.
Carolan moved to North Brunswick shortly after returning from the Vietnam War. He worked at Johnson & Johnson as a production supervisor for Permacel Tape for 38 years.
He was a member of the North Brunswick Township Zoning Board and spent time coaching Little League and Travel Baseball in North Brunswick. He was also involved with the North Brunswick Soccer Program.
Carolan resides at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park, where he was given a certificate of appreciation for his commitment to volunteer service.
To nominate a township veteran for the secondary street sign program for next year, contact Lou Ann Benson at 732-247-0922, ext. 475 or lbenson@northbrunswicknj.gov.
