JACKSON — Decades of community service in Jackson and beyond will soon be formally memorialized by the Jackson Township Alumni Hall of Fame with the induction of four new members.
The Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees and members of the public will gather Oct. 19 at the Woodlake Country Club, Lakewood, to induct Dolly Harris, George W. White Jr., Claudia Kutscher and Dr. Vincent A. DeMuro.
The Hall of Fame represents the “pride” of a community, according to Hall of Fame Secretary Judy Siegel.
“It is the pride in knowing we have these people in our community and what they turned out to be,” she said.
Since 1991, almost 100 people have been inducted into the hall, which is based at Jackson Memorial High School. Siegel said the criteria for induction is a proven history of giving back to the community.
“We really look for community service that goes beyond joining a club, where they really performed and achieved many things in their lives,” she said.
Information about the inductees was provided by the Hall of Fame.
Kutscher, who is a member of the Jackson Memorial High School Class of 1967, made a name for herself in communities throughout the country. As a registered nurse, Kutscher worked at hospitals in Ohio, Maryland and Colorado, and volunteered and participated in numerous fundraisers.
While living in Colorado, Kutscher learned to climb mountains — a hobby that eventually led her to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
She eventually became an emergency medical technician and a wildland firefighter. By 1999, Kutscher was fighting wildfires in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
White was a staple in Jackson for more than three decades. From 1962-94, White was an employee of the Jackson School District. He taught at the Switlik Elementary School and later became a guidance counselor at Jackson Memorial High School.
Since Jackson Memorial graduated its first class in 1966, White volunteered his time to raise money for student scholarship organizations.
White also taught at Ocean County College, Toms River, as an adjunct professor, and earned a school administrator certificate from Seton Hall University.
By 1989, White joined Dave Miller and Bill Doerr in creating the Jackson Alumni Hall of Fame and later served as a trustee.
Dolly Harris, who is a 1982 graduate of Jackson Memorial High School, joined the New Jersey Army National Guard as a private first class in February 1989 after working as a safari warden at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson.
While in the National Guard, Harris worked as a dental hygienist in Monmouth and Ocean counties from 1993 to 2004.
In May 2004, Harris’ National Guard unit was mobilized and assigned to the 42nd Division Support Command. She deployed to Iraq for the entirety of 2005, where she served as a communication link between her unit and the Division Commander. While overseas, she helped equip Iraqi security forces.
By January 2006, Harris was released from active duty. Harris soon returned to the National Guard, taking on a number of noncombat roles before retiring as a major in December 2008.
Harris is the first and only woman to be elected to the position of junior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8867, Brick Township.
Harris has been involved in a number of fundraising and charity efforts, including organizing a Thanksgiving dinner for individuals who were impacted by superstorm Sandy in 2012.
In September 1964, DeMuro, a native of Lodi, opened Jackson’s first medical practice on West County Line Road.
As the first physician in town, DeMuro volunteered his services to the Jackson School District, the Jackson Police Department, the Jackson First Aid and Rescue Squad and the Jackson Pop Warner youth football league.
DeMuro was a member of the Jackson Board of Health, and he served as president of the Lions Club. He served a two-year term as president of the medical staff at the former Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood.
By 1971, DeMuro; his brother, Peter; and Dr. Anthony Christiano established the DCD Medical Group, which later opened an office on Bartley Road.
In 1985, the trio were joined by attorney Philip Scalo and opened the Bartley Manor convalescent center — another first for the township, which led the way to the opening of The Orchards at the Bartley assisted living facility.
In addition to honoring selfless community members, Siegel said the hall’s trustees help graduating high school seniors who have “shown academic excellence and an interest in positively contributing to their community” through an annual scholarship fund for students from Jackson Memorial and Jackson Liberty high schools.
“After all, the Hall of Fame reflects on our school district on what our teachers are doing,” Siegel said.
For tickets to the Hall of Fame dinner, contact Rich Raney at 732-610-9968.