SOUTH COUNTY: Induction for Hall of Fame in March

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
The first seven people to be inducted into South Hunterdon Regional High School’s recently formed athletic Hall of Fame were introduced Friday night at the high school’s first home football game of the season.
"The formal induction ceremonies for these seven special individuals will be held March 26 at the Inn at Lambertville Station," said Mark Voorhees, chairman of the SHRHS Hall of Fame Committee.
The seven inductees are Jason Fuhr, Sam Jefferis, Ervin "Skip" Johnson, Rita Sweeney, Joseph Garefino, Mary Louise Venettone and Colleen McCrea.
Jason Fuhr, who passed away in February at age 80, "did a tremendous amount for school athletics, both male and female," said Mr. Voorhees. "He was president of the football booster club and helped the coaching staff of several sports at the high school. He did a lot for the community in areas other than athletics, too."
Sam Jefferis, a former athletic director at SHRHS, was the football coach there for 40 years.
"His football teams won state championships in 1975 and 1979," Mr. Voorhees said. "The school’s football field is named after him, and he’s a Hall of Fame member of the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association. His son, Toby, is the current coach of our high school’s football team."
Ervin "Skip" Johnson, a 1962 SHRHS grad, "was a standout athlete who excelled in both baseball and basketball," Mr. Voorhees said. "He went to Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and is a member of the college’s basketball hall of fame." Mr. Johnson retired several years ago after a long career of teaching industrial arts and coaching golf at nearby Hopewell Valley Central High School.
Rita Sweeney was a physical education teacher and field hockey coach at SHRHS for many years. "She was a very successful coach," Mr. Voorhees said. "Her field hockey teams won more than 10 state championships. She was director of the NJISAA’s (state interscholastic athletic association) when she retired and is currently that association’s field hockey administrator."
Joseph Garefino, who graduated from SHRHS in 1978, "was a standout football quarterback and basketball player," Mr. Voorhees said. "He was on our 1975 state championship football team. He scored more than 1,000 points during his basketball career at the school. He attended Rutgers University and The College of New Jersey and played quarterback on both their football teams."
Mary Louise Venettone, a 1976 grad who became a physical education teacher in West Amwell, "was a three-sport standout — field hockey, basketball and softball," Mr. Voorhees said. "She was a field hockey star at The College of New Jersey."
Colleen McCrea, who attended SHRHS in the 1990s, had a great basketball career there.
"She’s still our county’s all-time leading scorer," Mr. Voorhees said. "She went on to play basketball at George Washington University, and is a member of its basketball hall of fame. She currently works for the NJISAA."