Nine: Hometown Heroes from six valley towns

many unsung heroes in our communities here today, whose quiet power of service goes on every day without the recognition they truly deserve. They just do it because they care. Today is their day. Without the people we are recognizing today, our communities would not be as strong as they are, and North Jersey would not be the great place that it is,” Gottheimer said in a statement.

He added, “They all come from different walks of life, but share an idea that is particularly special: they embody our Jersey Values and make our community such a special place to live, work, and raise a family. They help us build that more perfect union of our dreams. We all should work to live up to their example.”

The July 2023 Fifth District Hometown Hero Award honorees from the Northern Valley in order of appearance:

• Nubar Nakashian, Haworth — Nubar has served as an EMT and ambulance corps officer with the Haworth Volunteer Ambulance Corps since 2009. He has been a lieutenant, vice president, and president (he is for a second time the vice president).

Across his countless calls, Nubar has been there when people needed him most. 1962–1968, he served as a medic in the United States Air Force Reserves and since 2006 he has served as part of the Haworth Police Auxiliary — now working as secretary and sergeant. At 82, heʼs still answering the calls of those in need.

• Miriam Lambert, Closter

— Miriam is a real estate broker associate at Christieʼs International Real Estate. In 2017, she won the Eastern Bergen County Board of Realtors Good Neighbor Award for improving the quality of life within their local community through service.

She has volunteered at the Closter Food Pantry for the past 10 years and has played a critical role in keeping it open to those in need — especially during the pandemic.

She has been a board member for nine years and the chair for two and a half before stepping down in February.

The pantry grew from 25 households in 2020 to approximately 45 households this year. They provide monthly distributions of perishable and non-perishable items 100% donated by the community and packed by their volunteers.

Miriam also received Temple Emanu-El of Closterʼs Shem Tov Award and has been the point person for the Templeʼs social action committee.

• Bruce Marshall, Harrington Park — Bruce was a part of the U.S. Army Reserves and rose to the rank of sergeant first class as a senior drill instructor

With his passion for recreational programs, he started the boys and girls grades 6–8 basketball clinic. He also founded and ran the Harrington Park Teen Center for 7th- and 8th-grade students, which was open Friday and Saturday nights in the Borough Hall basement.

He was appointed to the townʼs Board of Health and was inducted into the Harrington Park Schoolʼs Circle of Leadership.

He has served as a Harrington Park Community Church Outreach Committee member and has been an active volunteer with the Center for Food Action.

After retiring, Bruce joined the Harrington Park Volunteer Ambulance Corps and has served as their secretary, first lieutenant, and currently, assistant captain. In just five years he has responded to more than 1,000 emergency calls and performed multiple life-saving actions.

• Jeff Geisenheimer, Demarest — Jeff is a dedicated EMT who joined the Demarest Volunteer Ambulance Corps in early 2022. He rides three nights a week and makes himself available in the daytime, when extra help is needed.

From last May to December alone, he has responded to more than 160 calls. Because of his ded- ication and hard work, Jeff was recognized as Rookie of the Year and received the Presidentʼs Award.

• Michael Pisano, Closter

— For seven years, Michael has been the caretaker of the Lustron House — a 1950s flashback museum. Everything in the house is from the 1950s — clothes, magazines, furniture, and the television. Michael likes to call it a time capsule. This museum, for which Michael performed the majority of the restoration has attracted visitors from across New Jersey — bringing countless people to know and love Closter just as we all do.

Michael has also volunteered for the Closter Nature Center, and during Christmastime he volunteers as Santa for the town, fire department, and other organizations for the last few years.

Hometown Heroes who were not able to attend include:

• Police officers Michael Stevens, Bryan Gil and Andrew Vigorita of the Cresskill Police Department, saved a choking child

• Dr. Danielle DaGiau from Old Tappan, advocate for autism inclusive education.

• Sgt. David Solinas Jr. (posthumous), Oradell — Solinas was an 82nd Airborne paramedic and 101st Airborne flight medic in the U.S. Army. At 23, he sadly perished along with eight other service members in a medevac training mission on March 29, 2023.

Solinas was part of Boy Scout Troop 36 in Oradell and made Eagle Scout. He was recalled as funny, hard-working, a phenomenal medic, always went out of his way to be nice to others, dedicated countless hours to support his community at a young age, and never let anyone tell him what he couldnʼt do.

He loved his parents, siblings, wrestling, soccer, and his country. His family has created a non-profit, the Sergeant David Solinas Jr. Memorial Fund, to which people from across the country have donated nearly $90,000.

The family has created an annual River Dell High School Scholarship, the Sgt. David Solinas Jr. Memorial Award, which awards three scholarships to students dedicated to service.