SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Nonagenarian free-falling again on birthday for hungry

By Nicole Cosentino, Special Writer
   On July 1, 90-year-old Aaron Rosloff will skydive for the second time at the Westfield Airport.
   The cause?
   Raising money for the South Brunswick Food Pantry. Last year, Mr. Rosloff raised $3,500 and he hopes to do even better this time.
   ”When I first mentioned that I was going to do a jump, somebody said ‘why don’t you make it into a fundraiser?’ I said, ‘you’re nuts. Who would want to pay money just to watch me jump out of an airplane?’ Well, it turned out that the thing took on a life of its own,” said Mr. Rosloff.
   A native of New York, Mr. Rosloff served in the air force for four years. He has also worked as a real estate and insurance agent before retiring at age 65. Due to his poor eyesight, Mr. Rosloff was never able to fly planes in the airforce; instead, he was a mechanic.
   ”I wanted to be in the air force because I’d always been interested in flight,” Mr. Rosloff said. “My cousin Rosie used to joke that if you went into (my) room you had to duck because I had models hanging from the ceiling. I would build flying models of World War airplanes.”
   To Mr. Rosloff, skydiving appeared to be the next best thing to flying a plane himself. Last year, Mr. Rosloff jumped with Hadas Elami, Gary Bergman (the president of the B’nai Tikvah synagogue), and Michael Weiss.
   Mr. Rosloff is now a very active member of the South Brunswick community. He has lived in South Brunswick for 53 years and has participated in and organized the Rejoice Festival, skydiving for charity, “creating and maintaining homes for low-income seniors,” a music festival, and the daytimer’s club at the B’nai Tikvah synagogue.
   As such a busy nonagenarian, Mr. Rosloff is very health conscious. “When my (late) wife was ailing about ten years ago, I realized that if I was going to be taking care of (her), I had to take care of myself too,” Mr. Rosloff said. “I work out every morning and I try to eat right. I cook for myself.”
   Social Services Director Lou Anne Wolf said she has known Mr. Rosloff for years and understands how special the jump is because he is also helping the community.
   ”Aaron decided last year, being a very special birthday – 90 years – that he wanted to do this skydiving jump,” Ms. Wolf said. “I’ve known him for years. He’s always been involved in the community. Not only would he fulfill a dream, he would help people.”
   Ms. Wolf, who said would attend the jump this year with her husband, is hoping to raise as much as last year’s jump.
   ”I hope that we can match what we made last year but due to the economy my hopes aren’t quite as high. We will be happy with anything,” Ms. Wolf said. “I’m just amazed by Aaron’s strength for wanting to jump again.”
   Ms. Wolf also said that the event is a demonstration of the variety of people in the township working to help others.
   ”We have a really supportive community in South Brunswick,” Ms. Wolf said. “It ranges from young kids encouraged by teachers and now we’ve got our senior community as well. All generations in our town (help out). We’re very blessed. The people who need the help are lucky to be here (in South Brunswick).”
   Mayor Frank Gambatese said at a town council meeting on Tuesday night that Mr. Rosloff is “a remarkable man, and that his generosity is reflected in the fundraiser’s purpose.
   Donations to the South Brunswick Food Pantry are accepted at Mr. Rosloff’s event website, www.aaronsjump.com. Supporters can also register to skydive along with him.
   Ms. Wolf said that donors for the jump might also send a check directly to the township.
   Send the checks to South Brunswick Social Services, PO Box 190, Monmouth Junction, NJ, 08852. Attn: Lou Anne Wolf.