The Rotary Club of Cranford honored two outstanding members of the Cranford Community at their Rotary meeting held on June 16. The Edward M. Coe Award was awarded posthumously to Art Nathan of the Cranford First Aid Squad (FAS), and Cranford faculty member Brian Niemsyk received the Vincent F. Sarnowski Award. “Each year Rotary’s Vocational Awards program honors two professionals representing varied vocations who exemplify the very best of their chosen vocations,” said Jamie Miller, Chair of Cranford Rotary’s Vocational Awards Committee.
*Art Nathan (in Memoria) Accepted by Joan Nathan and Kent Lucas, Captain of Cranford Volunteer First Aid Squad. Art Nathan had served on the Cranford First Aid Squad from 2011 until his death in November, 2015. Kent Lucas, current Captain of the FAS, spoke about how Art was instrumental in getting the organization back into operation after Hurricane Irene, and indicated that the Squad wouldn’t be where it is today without Art’s help and support. The honorarium of $250 associated with the Edward M. Coe award was accepted by Art’s wife, Joan, who donated it to the First Aid SquadThe Edward M. Coe Award is given to an individual in public services on a rotating basis, on 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.
School Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum presented Brian Niemsyk with the Vincent F. Sarnowski Award. Mr. Niemsyk is president of the Cranford Education Association and is the head of the middle school program at Lincoln School, where he teaches students in grades six through eight. He is retired from the Air Force and has served as a volunteer with the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless. He is a 1984 Cranford High School graduate. Mr. Niemsyk has asked that the $250 honorarium that is associated with the award go to Cranford Family Care.
The Vincent F. Sarnowski award is given to a Cranford Educator 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.
The Rotary Club of Cranford was established in 1923 and provides diverse programs that support education, and other community services. Past beneficiaries of Rotary support include Cranford Schools and Scholarship Recipients, Cranford First Aid Squad, Cranford Family Care, Cranford Cerebral Palsy League, Cranford United Way, Cranford Historical Society, Cranford PAL and the Rotary International Foundation. The Cranford Rotary Club meets every Thursday morning at 7:45 am at the Cranford Community Center. Any business or professional, active or retired, is cordially invited to attend our meeting. For additional information, please contact Membership Chair Rich Feder at 908-500-4318.
(above l-r) Jamie Miller, presenting the Sarnowski Award to Brian Niemsyk.
(above) Rotary President Joe Starkey (second from right) and Rotary Vocational Awards Committee Chair Jamie Miller (far right) present Coe Award to First Aid Squad Captain Kent Lucas (far left) and Joan Nathan.
