Seniors find a friend in new coordinator

Staff Writer

By Bob Fleming


Denise Barry Denise Barry

MARLBORO — The township’s senior citizen community has found a new friend in Denise Barry, Marlboro’s new senior citizen coordinator.

Barry, a Freehold Township resident, has been employed since February as the senior citizen coordinator, in charge of administering all senior-related programs and services, reporting to John Saffioti, superintendent of the Marlboro Parks and Recreation Department.

Barry holds a bachelor of science degree in management, housing and family development from Virginia Tech. She is also a certified teacher, personal trainer and fitness instructor.

Prior to accepting the coordinator position in Marlboro, Barry was employed as the director of the Goddard School, Freehold Township, from 1998-99 and prior to that as a preschool teacher, fitness instructor and camp director with Freehold Township Parks and Recreation, from 1989-98.

She is a former youth group director at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Freehold Township, and is active in the Freehold Regional High School District as a choreographer for theatrical productions, formerly at Freehold Township High School and presently at Colts Neck High School.

Among her professional affiliations, Barry is a member of the American Council on Exercise, the International Thespian Society and the World Fitness Alliance.

"I enjoy working with the seniors as individuals, more so than relating to them as one group," said Barry. "They have so much to offer and they really have a very positive attitude and wonderful perspective on things."

Barry said she is involved in a matrix program which aligns the mayor’s office, the business administrator, the recreation commission chairperson, the superintendent of parks and recreation, the director of public information, the community police unit and the senior coordinator in delivering programs and services throughout Marlboro.

According to Stephen Dick, chairman of the Marlboro Recreation and Parks Commission, the individual departments act independently in providing services to the senior community, with the Recreation and Parks Department serving to coordinate these activities.

"Since my employment, I’ve been working closely with the recreation commission and meeting with the Senior Advisory Committee on a monthly basis," Barry said. "There’s a number of things in place and a wealth of new ideas for programs and services to be evaluated and considered."

Saffioti said Barry is a "welcome addition to my department" and he is "confident she will address the issues and needs of the senior community in a professional manner."

Barry said working with the Senior Advisory Committee is a means to reach that segment of the community and to be attentive to those residents’ needs.

"There’s a great deal of input from our seniors, who have a vested interest in the township and a lot of background and experience in making things work," Barry said. "Their shared ideas help to make for a superior seniors program in Marlboro."

According to Barry, her professional involvement working with individuals and groups, from early childhood through adolescents, young adults and senior citizens provides her with an approach to dealing with "the various and diverse needs of segments of the population."

Since assuming the coordinator’s position, Barry has been reviewing seniors’ comments received from a questionnaire mailed to them prior to her employment, soliciting ideas for improvements to existing programs and services, as well as ideas for new programs and services.

"I’ve tried to incorporate at least one idea from each response in the offerings I’m presenting for them," she said. "We’ve just released our Golden Nuggets summer issue which is a composite of many of these requests."

Among some of the new programs being offered to seniors are a senior swim day at Marlboro Swim Club, a pancake breakfast, a walking club, an arts and crafts show, a senior talent show, a bowling outing, a Grandparents Day brunch and a bocce ball club, as well as others, Barry said.

"We’re also reaching out to the high school to do some joint programming with area teen-agers and seniors, such as a seniors prom, a writing class and luncheon and a fashion show, to name a few ideas," Barry said. "It’s advantageous for both age groups and an educational as well as a social experience for all."

In addition to the new programs, seniors will be offered a variety of trips, in-house workshops and transportation services to round out the entire experience, Barry added.

"I’m pleased that Denise has joined our matrix team approach in Marlboro," said Mayor Matthew Scannapieco. "She is a highly qualified professional skilled not only in adult educational programming, but also in creative recreational programming."

Barry and her husband, Kelly, are the parents of five children, ages 13 to 22.

"Being a mom and juggling the schedules of five children, as well as their wants and needs, is great experience for this job," she said. "It’s not all that different than my professional responsibilities."

The Senior Advisory Committee, appointed by Scannapieco, includes the following representatives: Sylvia Schechter (Greenbriar); Lorraine Feinberg and Murray Kotler (Marlboro Greens); Barbara Derrick and Dennis Murphy (Friendship Club); Gloria LittleJohn and John Peterson (Morganville Senior Center); Ann Pokross (non-adult community); and Joe Leon (Wickatunk Village).

"My door is always open," Barry said. "I invite all seniors to stop in and chat with me. I look forward to meeting them."