Library renaming room to honor Tom Gambino

Cranbury library gives a nod to resident supporter.

By: Matt Kirdahy
   The Cranbury library wants to honor one of its greatest supporters — Tom Gambino.
   Mr. Gambino was an avid supporter of the Cranbury Public Library, and his spirit will immortalized when a public meeting room is dedicated in his memory.
   He died Oct. 8 after a battle with stomach cancer.
   "He loved the library," library Director Howard Zogott said. "His role on the board was invaluable. He understood the library’s relationship to the community."
   The dedication will be 7 to 9 p.m. May 9 and on hand will be many who knew Mr. Gambino, library staff, board of trustee members, members of the Friends of the Cranbury Library, family and friends. The ceremony is open to the public.
   Ginny Swanagan of the library board of trustees, said the library will close at 4 p.m. that day to allow for some time to set up. She said that there would be two commemorative plaques hung in Mr. Gambino’s memory. One on the outside of the meeting room will have "Thomas W. Gambino" engraved on it, while the one inside the room is going to have a picture of Mr. Gambino and list of personal comments about him from his family and friends.
   Ms. Swanagan said the picture on the second plaque is something someone from the library took when Mr. Gambino was in the building reading.
   "The picture shows Tom in the library in the reading area holding a magazine called ‘Wooden Boat,’ " Ms. Swanagan said. "He loved wooden boats. He loved anything made of wood."
   Mr. Zogott remembers his friend and colleague in the picture.
   "Tom was on the library board for well over 10 years and was a great friend of the library and an incredible user of the library," Mr. Zogott said. "He would come in and say, ‘Hi, Howard,’ and would take a look at the new books and read something you could never imagine him reading. I’d say, ‘Tom you’re going to read that?’ But that’s Tom."
   Mr. Zogott said there is a list of scheduled speakers, including family members, friends, Mayor Pari Stave and members of the library board.
   "This is a celebration of Tom and the library," Mr. Zogott said. "It’s not a mournful thing."
   In November 2002, the school board unanimously approved a motion to name the public library room in memory of Mr. Gambino. The action required approval from the school board because the library is technically the property of the school district.
   Mr. Zogott said he was pleased that the board approved the dedication.
   The public library room is used as a meeting place for many community groups and organizations, including the Cranbury Arts Council and Girl Scouts. Many library activities, including story hour and the book discussion group, also use the room.
   In addition to the informal ceremony, Mr. Zogott said, Gambino family members and the library have a surprise for the community. He said that people are going to have to attend to find out.
   "His family has done something only a handful of us know about and that will be unveiled at the dedication," Mr. Zogott said.