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Department for Persons with Disabilities Person of the Year Award
The Person of the Year Award, chosen by members of the DPD and Murray Family, is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the Department for Persons with Disabilities and has made a difference in the lives of those in need.
1994 Msgr. John E. Fitzpatrick
1995 Bishop Frank Rodimer
1996 Rev. Msgr. Herbert K. Tillyer
1997 Joseph F. Duffy
1998 Joseph Wallace
1999 Elizabeth “Liz” Barnet
2000 Dr. Joseph Giuliano
2001 Jim & Kit Murray
2002
Jack Kelly
2003 Sister Dorothy Dee
2004 In Loving Memory of Kit Murray
2005 William “Bill” Rudloff
2006 Dr. Lawrence Barnet & Barnet House
2007 Dr. Diane Cavanagh
2008 Thomas A. Barrett
2009 Thomas P. Ciborski
2010 Patricia and Dennis Murray
2011 Julie A. Tatti
2012 Sr. Joan Kathleen Gercke
2013
Patrick Newton
2014 Monsignor James Mahoney
2015 Father Kevin Corcoran
2016 Bruce DeMolli
2017 Joseph F. Duffy
2018 Dr. Jaclyn Brancato
2019 Fr. Matthew Twiggs
2020 Lifetime Achievement Awards presented
2021 Pat Barrett
2022 John and Noreen Risko
2023 Michael Calabrese
2024 Christopher Brancato - to read about Chris, click here
Marilyn Murray Keenan Inspiration Award (Volunteer of the Year)
The Marilyn Murray Keenan Inspiration Award is named after Marilyn Murray Keenan, who had been involved with DPD for over 40 years until her untimely passing in 2007. Marilyn was a People Need Friends Volunteer for DPD, who also volunteered for DePaul High School and St. Phillips Church in Clifton. Her memory lives on through her family and through her extended DPD Family.
1995 Paula Liland
1996 Liz Celmer
1997 Rebeca Ruiz-Uloa
1998 Kathleen Passano
1999 Isabel Fitzgerald
2000 Mike Renaldo
2001 Kathy Heelan
2002 Janet Mathis
2003 Robin Gugan
2004 Joseph Crowley
2005 Maggie Pavelko
2007 Barbara Renaldo
2009 Pat Barrett and Joanne Rossi – “CARE Volunteers”
2010 The Renaldo Family
2011 Erika Walsh
2012 Yvonne Ferraro/Sandra Kahn – “The Party Ladies”
2013 Kevin Scillia
2014 Christine Just and Stanley
2015 Jim White
2016 Janice Carolan
2017 Jennifer Minervino
2018 Mary Ryan Zanotti and Kathleen Peterson
2019 Steve Binder and Bella
2020 Martin Addison
2021 Paula Lavorgna
2022 Mitchell Meyer and Elena Spagna
2023 Rosemary Kehoe
2024 Danny McCoy - To read about Danny, click here
Frank X. Graves Award (Service Recipient of the Year)Frank X. Graves Jr. was the past Mayor of Paterson who served 2 separate terms, as well as serving on the Paterson City Council, The Passaic County Board of Freeholders and the New Jersey State Senate. Mayor Graves was instrumental in helping DPD construct Murray House on Main Street in Paterson. Mayor Graves was a longtime supporter of DPD’s until his passing in 1990.2001 Agnes Federicci
The Frank X. Graves Award is given annually to an individual who lives in one of DPD’s group homes or supervised apartments. The award is given to someone who has overcome adversity and who has helped others. The Frank X. Graves recipient also goes on to become the New Jersey Association of Community Providers (NJACP) Community Star.
2002 Jimmy Donovan
2003 Mindy Julian
2004 John Spindler
2005 Claire Reilly
2006 Craig Smitheman
2007 Sue Ann Reiff
2008 Eleanor Siegrist
2009 Cassandra Pitman
2010 Abel Esquivel
2011 Donald Smitheman
2012 Diana Iuculano
2013 Patrick Manogue
2014 Mary Ann Maguire
2015 Frank Pinter
2016 Debbie Hunter
2017 Kaleigh O’Halloran
2018 Clara Amato
2019 Anthony Iovine
2020 Peter Goldberg
2021 John Garino
2022 Terry Tanzer
2023 Bradley McCall
2024 Susan Wilson - to read about Susan, click here
Employee of the Year Award1987 Arlene Grosenbeck
The Employee of the Year Award is given to a member of the DPD Staff Team. Staff members who win Employee of the Month are eligible to receive this award. This honor is given to someone who has displayed selfless dedication and a commitment to excellence throughout the year.
1986 Jean Fitzmaurice
1988 Cheryl Novak
1989 Arnette Miller
1990 Pam Barrett
1991 Nora Mazzatta
1992 Danny McCoy
1993 Sherry Huffin
1994 Carol Murray
1995 Jenny Murphy
1996 Xiomara Solano
1997 Michele Dugger-Starr
1998 Pam Van Eck
1999 Maria Pogozelski
2000 Lisa Beasley
2001 Don Rossi
2002 Kristen Bulas
2003 Jo
seph Mucheru
2004 Kelly Murphy
2005 Marcia Price
2006 Lauren Bashant
2007 Kathy DeYoung
2008 Mike Hernon
2009 Mary Ellen Hokenberg
2010 Clara Beck
2011 Vivian Codjoe
2012 Pam Barrett
2013 Joseph Kinuthia
2014 Linda Delaney
2015 Ryan Vreeland
2016 Jake Ferguson
2017 Angela Green
2018 Frank Amantea
2019 Jim Cerny
2020 Recognizing all DPD staff for their efforts through the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021 Niurka Marte
2022 Hettie Benjamin
2023 Kathy Spinner - to read about Kathy, click here
The 50th Anniversary Murray House Dinner Dance was held on February 13, 2020. This event recognized a series of Jimmie Murray Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, listed below.
Beloved Service Recipients
The individuals who live in DPD's group homes, work at Gruenert Center, are served by our Support Coordination Program, or who are helped in any other way are the heart and soul of DPD's important ministry. DPD is honoring the 3 remaining "original" Murray House residents: Robert, Billy and Terry.
In Memoriam, Walter Barton
In Memoriam Claire Reilly
In Memoriam Donald Peseski
In Memoriam Eleanor Siegrist
The Smitheman Family, Here and Gone
Robert Jaworski
Billy Ramirez
Terry Tanzer
Dedicated Staff
For over 50 years, DPD's employees have provided help and created hope for those in need. Many on this list have been part of the DPD Family for over 40 years!
DPD Founder, Monsignor Jack Wehrlen
Tom and Pat Barrett
Denise Drexler
Joe and Carolyn Duffy
Sr. Joan Gercke
Billy and Joanne Macausland
Jim and Mary Mazzoni
Danny McCoy
Larry and Nancy Michalov
Joanna Miller
Jenny Murphy
Barbara Ocker
Don and Joanne Rossi
Julie and Lou Tatti
Pam Van Eck
Debbie Wehrlen
Rocco Zappile
Selfless Volunteers
DPD's People Need Friends Program consists of selfless volunteers who have generously given their time and talents to make a difference in the lives of those served at DPD.
5 O'Clock Somewhere
Denis and Denise Avagliano
Pam and Colin Barrett
John and Mary Burke
Christopher Brancato
Roy DeFranco
The DeYoung Family
The Gloria Family
The Just Family
Margaret Wallace
The Milliken Family
Jennifer Minervino
The (Walsh/Alexander) "Party Ladies"
Kathleen Peterson
Barbara Renaldo
St. Philip’s (Clifton) Volunteers
Mary Ryan Zanotti
The Murray Family and Extended Murray Family
The Murray Family's partnership with the Department for Persons with Disabilities is like none other. 5 generations of Murray Family Members have helped DPD flourish into what it is today.
Dennis and Patty Murray and Family
Albert Keenan and Family (In Memory of Marilyn Murray Keenan)
Patrick and Maureen Murray and Family
Joseph A. Murray Family (In Memory of Joseph A. Murray)
The Seergy Family
The Welsh Family
The Devalue Family
Joseph W. Murray
Andrew Murray
Bryan Murray
Bobby Murray
Service Organizations, Corporate Partners, and Schools
DPD is appreciative of the many service organizations, businesses and other communtiy groups who, through philanthropic giving, have made a difference in the lives of thousands.
Catholic Charities, USA
Knights of Columbus, Supreme Council
Knights of Columbus, State of New Jersey Council
Knights of Columbus, Paterson Federation
Special Olympics of New Jersey
DePaul Catholic High School
Jefferson Township High School
The Diocese of Paterson, Catholic Schools
Allied Printing
Lakeland Bank
Diocese of Paterson Leadership
The Department for Persons with Disabilities Family is blessed to have the unending support of Bishop Arthur Serratelli, Monsignor James Mahoney and entire, extended, Diocese of Paterson Family.
Bishop Arthur Serratelli
Monsignor James Mahoney
Monsignor Herbert Tillyer
Monsignor Geno Sylva
Monsignor John Fitzpatrick
Monsignor John Hart
Monsignor Mark Giordani
Rev. Brian Sullivan
Rev. Kevin Corcoran
Rev. Jhon Madrid
Rev. Marc Mancini
Rev. Matthew Twiggs
Rev. Sean Foley
Sr. Catherine McDonnell
Sr. Joan Daniel Healy
Sr. Mary Edward
Pat Brennan
Ken Mullaney
Tim Potter
Dennis Rodano
Rebecca Ruiz-Ulloa
William Rafferty
Families and Dear Friends
Through the years, numerous families and individual contributors have given generously, advocated for our cause, and have helped DPD grow into what it is today - a source of hope and love for hundreds of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Barnet Family
Jim Bashant
Thomas Brothers
The Butler Family
The Calabrese Family
Dr. Diane Cavanagh
Tom Ciborski
Peggy Cofrancesco
Barbara and Marty Cohen
Sr. Dorothy Dee
Bruce DeMolli
Jack Fatigati
Tommy Galfo
Dr. Joe and Linda Giuliano
Jack and Rose Kelly
Barry and Elizabeth Levine
Cathy Magliocchetti
The Newton and Lavorgna Families
Donald Okner
The O'Neil Foundation
Congressman Bill and Elsie Pascrell
Paul Natoli
Pinter, Mulder and Fraser Families
Ken Riva
Bill Rudloff
Edie Ryan
Sr. Denise Sickinger
Todd and Joyce Soltesz
Terence Taggart and the Taggart Family
Tommy and Albert Manzo and the Brownstone Family
Frank and Mimi Walsh