SOUTH BRUNSWICK – In an effort to recognize those who have improved the governance, education and safety of South Brunswick and the community at large, the South Brunswick Lions Club honored their “local legends.”
“This is a celebration of members of our community who made our little corner of the world … that much better,” Lions Club President Jim Elieff said.
Deputy Mayor Joseph Camarota was introduced by Chris Carbone, the director of the library, where the event took place on Sept. 6; Carbone is a member of the Lions as well.
Camarota was first elected to the South Brunswick Township Council in 2004, and has served four consecutive terms. He became the deputy mayor in 2018. He has served on the recreation, transportation, economic development and Kingston advisory committees. He is president of the Princeton Manor Homeowners Association, and is a recreational and travel soccer coach.
“When you do things you do them just because it’s the right thing to do,” Camarota said, noting that the Lions are the “real heroes” because they are “so woven in the intrinsic fabric of South Brunswick.”
Harry J. Delgado, former police captain and current Board of Education president, was introduced by Joyce Mehta, a current school board member. She said she has learned integrity, character and discipline from Delgado.
The former police officer for 30 years attended leadership programs at NJSACOP West Point, Rutgers University and the FBI National Academy in Quantico.
He has spent 25 years on the Board of Education and is part of the New Jersey School Boards Association.
For 20 years he has been active with the Vikings Music Parents Association and has performed with The Pirandello Players.
“Serving as a volunteer brings a lot of intrinsic value,” said Delgado, whose father was a Lion. “It comes from the heart and is something we feel a sense of duty to do.”
The Rev. John Maltby introduced Ann Fleming, president of the Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad, prior to receiving his own award.
Fleming grew up in South Brunswick. After joining McMaster-Carr Supply Company in 1982, she became an EMT and took on the role of coordinating and training and others since her company wanted its own response team on site.
She became captain of the township’s first aid squad in 2001. On Sept. 11, 2001, she was responsible for recruiting a squad to stand by in Jersey City.
“She is a treasure to all of us in the Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad and to anyone she works with,” Maltby said.
After completing their secret handshake, Fleming said, “I enjoy doing volunteer work, I do. I’ve been doing it many, many years. It just brings me joy every day.”
Elieff then spoke on behalf of Maltby, who has since retired from Miller Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Maltby played the piano and tuba when he was younger, while also singing with the Westminster Fellowship Choir. While at Cornell University, he wanted to become a chaplain for the U.S. Navy. Maltby would later say he was inspired by his friends who were in the service, neighbors who were in World War I and professors in college.
“I had the older people as role models and now I became one at my age,” the 85-year-old said.
Maltby joined the Princeton Theological Seminary in 1958, and then became pastor of Miller Memorial from 1962 to 2008. He served as chaplain of the South Brunswick Police Department, South Brunswick Fire Department, Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad, the South Brunswick Lions Club, and the Masonic Lodge in Upstate New York. He was a past master of the Pioneer Grange.
In 1962, Maltby joined the Juvenile Conference Committee for 25 years. In 1963, he helped establish Boy Scout Troop 10, and served as a scoutmaster.
He was a substitute teacher in South Brunswick in 1963, and then from 1968-82.
“Every kid wanted John as a substitute teacher because they would get a magic show,” Elieff said.
He also became a certified CPR instructor in 1968.
“This is the kind of man who just doesn’t sit and do nothing,” Elieff said of Maltby.
South Brunswick Police Lt. Gene Rickle was introduced by Carbone. Rickle has served in law enforcement for 24 years, including in the areas of patrol, evidence, DARE, school resource, traffic safety, community policing, National Night Out, Neighborhood Watch, the Citizens Police Academy, the Youth Police Academy, child identification, the Blue Angel lock box program, senior citizen outreach, safety assessments and active shooter training.
Rickle said the nature of community has three components: security, shared jobs and socialization.
“I’m tying to get everybody on the same page so we can watch out for one another” in order to build a community and stay strong, he said.
United States Marine Corps veteran Buddy Thomas’s son was cheering him on from the front row as Lions Club Secretary Anna Killeen read his bio.
Thomas served three tours in Vietnam, and now raises POW flags around South Brunswick and at St. Cecilia’s.
His grandfather and father were Marines, as is his son Joseph.
“It’s been a great pleasure to know the people of South Brunswick. I love South Brunswick,” Thomas said.
Chuck Spahr, retired chief of the Monmouth Junction Volunteer Fire Department, was introduced by Elieff.
Spahr joined the department in 1960, was a line officer in 1966, became assistant chief in 1971, and served as chief from 1972-75. He is still an active member.
He served as commissioner of Fire District No. 2 and has been a life member of the Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad since 1962.
He and his son Brian are the first father-son chief duo in South Brunswick.
Spahr thanked the Lions Club for the recognition.
The South Brunswick Township Lions Club meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at Pierre’s, 582 Georges Road, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.
For more information, visit https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/southbrunswick/index.php
Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@newspapermediagroup.com.
