RELEASE: Gottheimer Hosts Fifth District “Hometown Heroes” Awards
Above: At his Fifth District Hometown Heroes Ceremony, Gottheimer honors Johnny “Johnny Buckets” Jackson, a recent graduate of Ridgewood High School and basketball player who is now cancer-free.
HACKENSACK, NJ — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) honored local lifesaving first responders, veterans, volunteers, community leaders, and residents during his Fifth District Hometown Heroes Ceremony, held at the Hackensack Performing Arts Center.
Watch Gottheimer’s Hometown Heroes Ceremony here.
Gottheimer honored 21 North Jersey residents as Fifth District Hometown Heroes to acknowledge their dedication to helping improve the lives of their neighbors, families, and communities.
“If you tune into cable or go onto social media, there is far more attention these days on what’s going wrong with America, and far too little attention on what’s going right. But then, stories crop up here and there of a firefighter rescuing a young girl from a burning building, or a high school athlete reassuring kids just like him that not even cancer can stop your dreams,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).“You realize that we just don’t spend enough time showcasing all of the good that happens every day — not enough time recognizing what it means to be a great citizen in the greatest country in the world.”
Read about this year’s Hometown Heroes below:
Nicholas Soltesz and Peter Wunk, West Milford — Nicholas and Peter both serve in the West Milford Police Department. Late one Saturday night, they responded to a call for a car crash on Clinton Road. Peter was first on the scene, where a car was pluming smoke with two passengers trapped inside. Peter raced in to assess the injuries of the passengers, when the smoke broke out into a fire. Peter immediately pulled out a knife and cut the driver out of his seat and began dragging him up a hill. Nicholas immediately ran down to get the other passenger out — even tearing a ligament in his hand doing it. Within one minute after bringing both passengers to safety, the car became completely engulfed in flames. Despite their own injuries, Peter and Nicholas saved two lives that night.
Johnny “Johnny Buckets” Jackson, Ridgewood — Johnny, also known as Johnny Buckets, is a recent graduate of Ridgewood High School and a basketball player. In 2023, he began to feel tired after games and practices. After ten months of seeing doctors, Johnny received a diagnosis of Stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Two days before his eighteenth birthday, he began chemotherapy. Despite months of treatments and his ongoing battle with cancer, Johnny was determined to play on the opening night of his senior year, scoring thirty points. He never missed a single game, becoming the first basketball player in Ridgewood’s history to score two thousand points — even while enduring chemotherapy treatments. Johnny helped the team make it to the state semi-finals and earned himself the title of 2024-2025 Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Bryan Cirelli, Montvale — Bryan bravely served our country as a paratrooper for four and a half years in the U.S. Army, receiving the Army Commendation Medal for courageously helping local police in North Carolina arrest a criminal suspected of robbery and assaulting a police officer. Bryan also donated a kidney “without hesitation” to his lifelong friend and fellow Montvale native, retired Borough police officer Lt. Jason Szabo, even though it put him out of work for two months without pay while he recovered.
Tammy Levinson, Park Ridge — Tammy has been a tireless advocate for substance abuse prevention as the Director of the Municipal Alliance for the Borough of Park Ridge. Through the Municipal Alliance, Tammy helps raise awareness about the dangers of alcoholism and drug abuse in our communities — bringing together local residents, organizations, and officials to build healthier neighborhoods through compassion and action. For more than eleven years, Tammy has also worked to help get the backs of veterans as a dedicated member of Unit 153 of the American Legion Auxiliary — honoring our veterans and their sacrifices.
Joseph Bianco, Closter — Joe is the Chairman of the Closter Zoning Board of Adjustment, where he has served for more than 30 years and has never missed a single meeting. He previously served Closter as a Councilman in 1978 and 1981, and as Mayor from 1983 to 1986. Joe has spent decades helping shape the development of North Jersey’s neighborhoods and business districts. Joe has played a critical role in securing funding for the Closter Senior Citizens Center, renovating the Closter Borough Hall, creating a new Lewis Street extension, and helping to establish Temple Emanuel’s new home.
Barry Wood, Harrington Park — Barry has spent seventeen years with the Harrington Park Volunteer Ambulance Corps, serving as Crew Chief, Committee Chair, and twice as Corps President. Through his work as an EMT, Barry has responded to more than a thousand emergency calls and helped save countless lives. From being a Borough Councilman to being a Recreation Commissioner, and a Member of the Planning Board and the Environmental Commission, Barry has committed himself to not just saving lives, but also improving the quality of life of his neighbors.
Chris Brown, Bergenfield — Chris, a talented craftsman, works for the Bergenfield Department of Public Works, where he takes pride in working on special projects from hand-built benches to field house improvements. For Chris, it is more than a job; it is an opportunity to make his hometown a better place for his athletes, neighbors, and kids. Chris helped build the Vietnam Moving Wall display in Bergenfield to honor the sacrifices of our heroes, including Chris’s father-in-law, who was a Vietnam War veteran.
Mary Davis, River Edge — Mary has now been a part of River Edge Volunteer Ambulance Service for 50 years and has used CPR to save someone’s life on three separate occasions — honored by the Hackensack Medical Center with two Lifesaving Awards in 1992 and 1994. She was formerly a Councilwoman for River Edge for four years and also works as a realtor, connecting with Jersey families to find their next dream home in the best state in the country. Mary was recognized as the 2018 NJ Realtor of the Year by the NJ Realtors Association.
Stephen Mihalovic, Vernon — Stephen is a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Navy as a radioman, combat crew, and rear gunner from 1942 to 1946. During his service in the Pacific Theater, Stephen served on the USS Enterprise, USS Intrepid, and USS Hancock, and survived both a torpedo and a kamikaze attack. For his service to our nation, Stephen received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three gold stars, and the Combat Air Crew Roll of Honor. Stephen is currently an active member of St. Francis de Sales Church in Vernon and a trustee for the Knights of Columbus. Stephen also recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
Josephine Higgins, Woodcliff Lake — Josephine served as the first and only female Mayor in Woodcliff Lake’s history, working hard to support local families and small businesses as Mayor for two consecutive four-year terms, while also serving on the County Committee. When her term ended, she returned to work on the Council to remain involved in her town and help families until she retired just a year ago — starting the Senior Center in Woodcliff Lake. Josephine is also the longest-standing volunteer at the Tri-Boro Ambulance Corps, working diligently as a nurse to support patients and provide critical, life-saving care for those in medical emergencies.
James “Jay” Ludwig, Ho-Ho-Kus — Jay is an active volunteer in the Ho-Ho-Kus Fire Department, having previously served twice as Chief. In addition to his work as a volunteer firefighter, he also currently serves as president of the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association to support firefighters who get hurt on the job or face financial hardship. Jay has also served as Ho-Ho-Kus Office of Emergency Management Coordinator for twenty-five years and counting — helping lead emergency responses to disasters, including floods, which is increasingly important in Jersey.
Ashleigh Mallo, Newton — Ashleigh, a nurse, adopted Missy, the service dog of a long-term patient and veteran who could no longer care for his dog while receiving treatment for metastatic cancer. Ashleigh still brings Missy to see her original owner, giving him weekly updates about Missy, including photos and videos, and taking them both outside to spend time together as he continues treatment during his long-term hospital stay.
Robert Tracy, Norwood — Rob serves his community as a supervisor for the Borough of Norwood Public Works. Rob helps ensure Norwood’s streets are clean and that Jersey families are safe in the toughest snowstorms. In 2021, Rob worked with first responders to save the lives of a mother and her son when massive rainfall caused a flood to engulf an entire SUV, grabbing hold of the car to keep the swollen brook from sweeping it under the Walnut Street bridge.
Dr. Joan Rivitz, Paramus — Joan has dedicated her personal and professional life to fighting bias, prejudice, and bigotry wherever and whenever it happens. Joan has served as a New Jersey Civil Rights Commissioner for 22 years, and is the longest-serving Commissioner in history. She has also served as Chair of the New Jersey Human Relations Council Advisory Board, Chairperson of the Paramus Community Relations Council, and, since 2006, has been a member of the United States Civil Rights Commission’s Special Advisory Board to New Jersey.
Paul Rubacky, Ringwood — Paul serves as a volunteer firefighter for the Skyline Lakes Fire Department, where he earned the Northwest Bergen Mutual Aid Association’s Meritorious Service award for fire rescue, helping save not just a young 11-year-old girl from a burning second-floor bedroom, but also his fellow firefighter, John Smith, who had lost consciousness from exhaustion during the rescue. Paul has also served on the Board of Trustees of the College of Mount Saint Vincent, serving as a fierce advocate in ensuring that children have access to a good education. He has also served on the Ringwood Board of Education and as a Ringwood Councilman.
Moshe Berow, Fair Lawn — Moshe, a small business owner, owns the ‘The Roadhouse Restaurant’ in Fair Lawn, a kosher barbeque restaurant. Tragically, within months of their first opening, the entire strip mall where the restaurant was located burned down. Moshe, determined to keep serving his community, continued cooking and eventually reopened his restaurant just across town. Moshe also serves as a volunteer of the Chaveirim of Bergen County and on the Fair Lawn Zoning Board, where he fights to protect property owners while ensuring the community is safe.
Lisa Blumer, Teaneck — Lisa is a Registered Nurse and program manager for the Holy Name Palliative and Hospice Care program in Teaneck, where she works every day to treat loved ones with the dignity, care, and respect they deserve. She also is a member of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association and Hospice Action Network, where she works to advocate for more resources for health care practitioners, even visiting Washington, D.C., to personally advocate for greater access to quality care for patients with advanced illnesses.
Diane Taylor, Lafayette — Diane started Pass It Along, a nonprofit organization that has helped North Jersey families and developed compassionate young children for more than twenty-five years. Diane also created the Birthday Brigade Program, where local youth throw birthday parties in homeless shelters so that everyone can be celebrated no matter their circumstances. For her work, Diane has been awarded countless accolades, including the 2005 Feed the Children Certificate of Recognition and a 2012 Letter of Recognition from former Governor Chris Christie.
Tatiana Marquis, Waldwick — Tatiana serves her community in the Waldwick Borough clerk’s office, working with the Department of Public Works to streamline Waldwick’s processes for licenses and permits. Tatiana also helps schedule the use of all Borough facilities, ensuring community spaces can be enjoyed by all residents. Tatiana also works with the County Clerk’s Office during elections to troubleshoot issues with voting machines, becoming an invaluable resource for poll workers on Election Day.
Theresa Johnston, Paramus — Theresa, after experiencing domestic violence firsthand, made a vow to help as many others as possible — turning her personal tragedy into a guiding hand of hope for countless survivors of abuse. Theresa is the founder of Never Alone Again Domestic Violence Organization & Resource Center, a non-profit that has helped survivors of domestic violence for more than twenty-five years by providing emergency shelter, crisis intervention services, Community Outreach, and Emotional and Spiritual Support. Theresa also helps run “A PANTRY for Us,” an online food pantry for those in need.
Below: Gottheimer honors local Hometown Heroes.
Below: Gottheimer honors West Milford police officers Nicholas Soltesz and Peter Wunk.
Below: Gottheimer honors Theresa Johnston of Paramus, the founder of Never Alone Again Domestic Violence Organization & Resource Center.
Below: Gottheimer honors Moshe Berow, owner of ‘The Roadhouse Restaurant’ in Fair Lawn.
Below: Gottheimer with Jay Ludwig, a volunteer in the Ho-Ho-Kus Fire Department.
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