Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Cranford Rotary Presents Vocational Awards

On June 19, Cranford Rotary honored two outstanding citizens for their service to the Cranford community.  Andrew Stratton was awarded the Edward Coe Vocational Award, and Barbara Murphy was given the Vincent F. Sarnowski Award. 

Lt. Stratton, recommended for the Award by Chief Len Dolan, is a 16 year veteran of the Cranford Fire Department.  During his tenure, Stratton has committed himself to fire safety education not only in Cranford but throughout New Jersey.  Lt Stratton asked that a donation of $250 be made on his behalf to the Atlantic Regional Firefighters Burn Foundation.  The Edward M. Coe Award is given to a member of the uniformed services on a rotating basis, as suggested by the Cranford Rotary and recommendation of the appropriate Municipal Chief or other Cranford Official.  Dr. Coe was a member of the Cranford Rotary from 1949 until his death in 1997. He was past President of the Rotary and a founding member of the Cranford First Aid Squad.


Ms. Murphy, who grew up in Cranford, was recommended for the Sarnowski Award by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gayle Carrick.  Ms. Murphy has taught 3rd and 4th grades at Livingston and Walnut Avenue Schools for over 40 years.  The Cranford Rotary will make a donation of $250 on her behalf to the Cranford High School Class of 1967 Scholarship Fund.  The Vincent F. Sarnowski award is given to a Cranford “Teacher of the Year” as recommended by the Cranford school system.   Mr. Sarnowski was Superintendent of the Cranford Public Schools until 1973 and was a Past President of the Cranford Rotary Club.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Mickey O'Brien Installed as 2014-15 Cranford Rotary President

Michael S. (“Mickey”) O’Brien was installed as the 92nd President of the Rotary Club of Cranford at a dinner on June 11.  His term will begin on July 1. 

Mickey has been a Rotarian since 2012. No stranger to the Rotary motto “Service Above Self”, he has also been with the Knights of Columbus since 1996, where he has served in various capacities, including Grand Knight of Msgr. Watterson Council 1711 in Westfield in 2000-2001. He and his family were twice awarded “Family of the Year”.

Mickey has been a Field Agent for the Knights of Columbus since 2010, offering Life Insurance, Retirement Annuities, Disability Income Insurance and Long Term Care protection to its members in Cranford as well as other K of C councils in the Union and Essex counties. He has been serving as President of the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counselors (“NAFIC”) since 2013. He was previously in laboratory sciences for the pharmaceutical and health care industries for over 30 years.


Other Rotary officers for 2014-15 are Maureen Strazdon, President-Elect; John Apisa, Secretary; Gene Matics, Treasurer; and Rich Feder, Immediate Past-President. 

2014 Rotary Scholarships Awarded


The Cranford High School students selected to receive 2014 Rotary Scholarships, based on their involvement in their school and in the community, are Kerry Dugandzic, AnnaLee Gallo, Max Glazer, Elizabeth Hopta, and Thomas Lee Philip.  Anastasia Caulfield received the Rotary Leadership Scholarship.  Kelly Schoustra and Rachel Zanfardino  received Interact Scholarships. 

Kerry will be attending Connecticut College, majoring in international relations and journalism, having raised funds for refugee students around the world and money in support of the fight against sex-trafficking in other nations.  AnnaLee is a member of Cranford Rotary’s Interact Club, has worked in Nicaragua, and hopes to become a neo-natal nurse practitioner after graduating from Fairfield University.  Elizabeth, who will be studying Womans Studies and English at Pennsylvania State University, has helped abused women.  Thomas is attending The College of William & Mary to concentrate on International Relations and Economics, with the goal to helping people outside the United States.  Max has made four trips to help the people of New Orleans recover from Hurricane Katrina and will be studying architecture and chemical engineering at Washington University in Saint Louis.

Anastasia was awarded Rotary’s Leadership Award, and will be attending Ramapo College to major in international studies.  Anastasia’s many leadership activities included the steering committee of the Cranford High School Peer Counselor Program, club officer of the Woods Tech Club, and three years on Student Council.

Two students who were members of Cranford High School’s Interact Club, the high school arm of Rotary, were given scholarships.   Kelly will major in business at Clemson University, and Rachel will attend Fairfield University.  Among the activities the Club participated in are visits to the Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, and joining in bake and candy sales, and Relay for Life, for the American Cancer Society.


Scholarship awardees, each of whom will receive $3,000 towards their college education.  The scholarships are underwritten by the Cranford Rotary Scholarship Foundation, with funds collected from the annual Cranford Rotary Golf tournament.