Bloomfield Educational Foundation Gala is April 26

The Bloomfield Educational Foundation is holding its annual gala on Saturday, April 26, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Forest Hill Field Club, 9 Belleville Ave., in Bloomfield, according to BEF Board Chairwoman Madeline Wollner.

“We are very proud of the BEF’s accomplishments over the past fifteen years to enhance the educational experiences for all students of the Bloomfield Public Schools," Wollner said. "Celebrating this milestone gives us the opportunity to reflect on the past and energizes us for future projects.  In addition, it gives us great pleasure to celebrate outstanding BHS alumni, Virginia Flannery Fetterly ’49 and Joseph Barry ’49, a dedicated educator, Heather Tripucka Carr ’68, and an outstanding community organization, the Sunset Classic Race Committee."

About the Honorees:

ALUMNAE OF THE YEAR, VIRGINIA FLANNERY FETTERLY ‘49

Virginia Flannery Fetterly was has lived her entire life in Bloomfield. She began her education at Brookside School and graduated Bloomfield High in 1949. She continued her studies at Jersey City State where she studied to become an elementary school teacher.

Virginia was one of four children of Arthur and Mae Flannery who were also raised in Bloomfield. Her siblings Peter, Helen and Dorothy all attended BHS--where Helen was the long-time School Nurse.

In 1952, Virginia married Robert Fetterly under the condition that he would move to Bloomfield. They have two children, Robert Jr. and Mary Fetterly DiTrani who both graduated from Bloomfield High. They are the proud grandparents to six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

After raising her children, Virginia taught for over 30 years in Bloomfield at Brookside School and later at Brookdale School.  She received many accolades along with “Teacher of the Year” for her service to the Bloomfield School System.

Virginia and Bob are avid athletic fans; and over the years, have been seen at many Bloomfield High football, basketball, softball and baseball games. Virginia and Bob were also charter members of the Bloomfield Basketball Boosters.  They rarely missed a game in which a child or grandchild participated. They were recently honored by Seton Hall University at the Prudential Center for their loyal support for over 35 years.

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR, JOSEPH BARRY, JR. ’49

A lifelong resident of Bloomfield, Joseph Barry Jr. attended Brookdale School, graduated from St. Thomas the Apostle and Bloomfield High School.  He attained a BSME with Management Option from Newark College of Engineering and served in the Army during the Korean Conflict.  

Barry began his forty year career as a Lab Technician for General Electric, in Bloomfield, and then held positions as the Assistant Plant Engineer for Maas & Waldstein Co., Newark; Salesman to the Company President for McNeil Construction, Newark and Township Administrator for the Township of Bloomfield.

Married to the former Patricia Gunther, Joseph is the father of eight children, Patricia Corcoran of West Orange, Joseph of Bloomfield, Theodore of Toano, VA, Nancy Carey of Lake Como, PA, Eileen McLaughlin of Hopatcong, Jane Mahoney of Pearle River, NY, Kathleen Toto of Herndon, VA and Betsy Orellana of Bloomfield.  He has twenty-six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Joseph is the NJ State Coordinator for Project Children, a Life Member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, a Trustee of United Way of Bloomfield, The Bloomfield Historical Society, Friends of the Library, Life Member of the Knights of Columbus.  

He is a former Board member of the Essex County Heart Association, and served as the Residential Fund Drive Chair, was on the Board of School Estimate from 1963-1966, the BHS Expansion Committee, in 1971 and is a former member of the Oakside Cultural Center.  

He also served his community as Councilman-at-Large from 1963-1966 and First Ward Councilman from 1973 through 1989 and was presented with a Distinguished Service Award from the Bloomfield Public Library in 1983 for his recognition of the quality library service and the example he personally set to the Townspeople by using the resources of the Library himself, on a regular basis.

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR, HEATHER TRIPUCKA CARR ‘68

Dr. Carr attended Oak View and Brookdale Schools, North Junior HS and Bloomfield High School.  She earned a BA from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, an MA from Rhode Island College, Providence, RI and completed her doctoral work at Seton Hall University in 2007.  

Heather began her career in education as a Middle School Reading Teacher, in Lincoln, RI, and served the District of Lincoln, RI as a HS Special Needs Teacher and taught Grade 2 in Clifton, NJ.  She then returned to Bloomfield to a position as Enrichment Teacher, a position she also held in Saddle River, K-8 program.  In 2000, Heather became the Director of Personnel for the Bloomfield School, District, a position she held until 2008.  From 2008-2010 she served as Bloomfield’s Director of Curriculum and is currently the Principal of Berkeley School, PreK-6.   

Dr. Carr’s curricular initiatives in the Bloomfield Public School System include: introducing and implementing Renaissance Learning Program at Berkeley School; initiating and implementing the first full day kindergarten program in Bloomfield; initiating and implementing the first library automation in all district elementary schools; introducing MSUNER initiative to the district; Developing standards based report card K-2; Creating first district elementary benchmark testing initiative, LA and Math, in Bloomfield; and developing Bloomfield district Mentor Handbook.

Heather is married to William Carr, BHS Class of 1968 and they have three married children, Liam, Merritt and Ashley and one grandchild, Brieda.  She is an avid Denver Broncos fan and cheers for her favorite team, the fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame.  As an elder boomerang she has moved back to Bloomfield, and whenever possible spends time walking or biking in Brookdale Park.  

Her favorite job is grandparenting.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR: THE SUNSET CLASSIC RACE COMMITTEE

For a quarter of a century, The Sunset Classic Race Committee has worked diligently and with Bloomfield pride, to host what has definitely become been a calendar favorite in Northern New Jersey road racing. Every year for the past 25, on the last Thursday night, the race event has occurred at Foley Field and taken thousands of runners through the picturesque streets of Bloomfield and Glen Ridge. 

This year’s race will be held on June 26th, and will be 26th running of The Sunset Classic. As always, the committee volunteers are planning lots of special treats, including a technical shirt for 5 Milers and the fabulous food and drink, such as hotdogs, ice cream and other summer treats that have always been a staple. The stadium finish on the track at Foley Field has always been a crowd pleaser.  This year the race committee will also host the USATF New Jersey and serve as the Open and Masters Women’s 5 Mile Championship!

The Sunset Classic event has also featured the Mile Fun Run and our ever popular Kids' Infield Sprints to encourage the entire family to welcome summer racing at its best. The entire event is topped off with music from NightMoves DJ and great prizes. 

All proceeds benefit the V.E.S.T. program, which helps to train high school students seeking a vocational career.

TICKET PRICING AND INFORMATION    

Tickets are $100 a piece and $50 for those 18 and under.  For tickets call 973-403-0032, email info@bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org .  To pay by credit card go to the website, www.bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org .  The evening will include a one-hour cocktail hour with passed hot and cold appetizers, a sit down dinner, dessert, coffee, soda, beer and wine.  The BEF Dinner Committee will conduct a “Wine and Dine” basket raffle featuring gift certificates from area restaurants, paired with choice wines.  A 50-50 raffle will also be held.  All proceeds to benefit the BEF.

About The Bloomfield Educational Foundation

   Founded in 1999, the BEF is a registered 501-c-3 Foundation, which strives to enhance the educational experience for all Bloomfield school children, grades K-12.  This year marks a milestone of giving that totals over $750,000 in college scholarships, teacher classroom grants, and extraordinary grants for larger projects.  Some of the projects most recently funded include:

• the purchase of Smartboards for each of the eight Elementary Schools in the District;

• funds to support  a school-wide science fair for grades 3-8 and a Guided Reading Program for the middle school;

• ongoing support for the VEST program, which serves the disabled students by teaching them vocational and career skills;

   For more information about the BEF go to the website, www.bloomfieldeducationalfoundation.org.  If you would like to become involved as a BEF volunteer, kindly call BEF Executive Director Ann Dassing at 973.403.0032.