Post by Marc LeVine on Aug 17, 2006 13:57:10 GMT -5
In Memory of Joe Copeland, Bob Guy & Dot Walling
Officials recall service of Freehold volunteers
Council members call Copeland, Guy, Walling very special citizens
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — In addition to the traditional municipal appointments and oaths of office that were part of the borough’s annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 2, officials took time to honor some very special Freehold people.
Mayor Michael Wilson told an audience of more than 100 people it is a common practice for the national media to remind Americans at the end of every year of the passing of individuals who made significant contributions to society.
“This year was no different,” Wilson said. “We have been reminded of the passing of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II; our nighttime companion, Johnny Carson; and even the fellow who read us the news each evening, Peter Jennings. Their contributions are obvious,” Wilson said.
The mayor then referred to the death of several members of the community, among them, his friend, Joseph Copeland, a former member of the Borough Council.
“Losing someone in a small town may go unnoticed on a national scale; however, its impact is painful and the void unfulfilled. A few days ago my good friend and Freehold’s loyal servant, Joseph Copeland, was laid to rest,” Wilson said in an emotionally strained voice. “His contributions are many. He served selflessly as a volunteer fireman for 45 years. He served on the governing body at a time that it needed direction in the rebuilding of the downtown, and until recently, he served on the Planning Board.”
He added that knowing his friend, Copeland has “probably already volunteered in some capacity in his new home.”
Council President Sharon Shutzer honored three people who she said “epitomized those who make this borough one of the very best and warmest places to call home.”
“During the last two months we have bade a fond farewell to three people who loved and served this town, Dorothy ‘Dolly’ Walling, Robert Guy and Joseph Copeland.”
Shutzer said she met Walling when she became a councilwoman in 1992 and was named liaison to the Council on Aging.
“It was Dolly who taught me how to do this job. It was Dolly who arranged all of the busing for our seniors,” Shutzer said. “She took calls at all hours of the day and night, and she scheduled all of the medical and shopping trips. She was the moving force behind the acquisition of our first seniors bus, and she would not rest until all was well with our seniors.”
Walling died in December, days from her 96th birthday, Shutzer said.
“She was one of my heroes, and I shall miss her terribly,” Shutzer said.
Guy, who also died in December, was a former chief of the Freehold Fire Department. Calling Guy a “gentle giant” and a “quiet, but devoted” man, Shutzer said he served the town as a volunteer firefighter for more than 50 years.
“Perhaps the most dynamic thing he did was to instill in his three children, and therefore his many grandchildren, the need to serve their community,” the councilwoman said.
She said Copeland was a loyal and dear friend to all in the borough. She said his family, his town and his country were his passions.
“He argued about everything, but it was that vehemence that made him so truly delightful,” Shutzer said. “There is nothing that Joe would not have done for Freehold or for any of us.”
Copeland served on so many committees that Shutzer said it would be impossible to list them all.
“Joe loved life and lived it to the fullest. I have never known a man who enjoyed good food and drink as much as he did,” she said. “And I have never known a man took such enormous pleasure in serving.”
The councilwoman referred to Elton John’s song “The Circle of Life” and quoted a line from the song: “You should never take more than you give.” She said if this is in fact true, then these three people lived exemplary lives.
“In truth,” she said, “they expected nothing in return for their service, but we owe them a debt that we can never repay.”
Officials recall service of Freehold volunteers
Council members call Copeland, Guy, Walling very special citizens
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — In addition to the traditional municipal appointments and oaths of office that were part of the borough’s annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 2, officials took time to honor some very special Freehold people.
Mayor Michael Wilson told an audience of more than 100 people it is a common practice for the national media to remind Americans at the end of every year of the passing of individuals who made significant contributions to society.
“This year was no different,” Wilson said. “We have been reminded of the passing of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II; our nighttime companion, Johnny Carson; and even the fellow who read us the news each evening, Peter Jennings. Their contributions are obvious,” Wilson said.
The mayor then referred to the death of several members of the community, among them, his friend, Joseph Copeland, a former member of the Borough Council.
“Losing someone in a small town may go unnoticed on a national scale; however, its impact is painful and the void unfulfilled. A few days ago my good friend and Freehold’s loyal servant, Joseph Copeland, was laid to rest,” Wilson said in an emotionally strained voice. “His contributions are many. He served selflessly as a volunteer fireman for 45 years. He served on the governing body at a time that it needed direction in the rebuilding of the downtown, and until recently, he served on the Planning Board.”
He added that knowing his friend, Copeland has “probably already volunteered in some capacity in his new home.”
Council President Sharon Shutzer honored three people who she said “epitomized those who make this borough one of the very best and warmest places to call home.”
“During the last two months we have bade a fond farewell to three people who loved and served this town, Dorothy ‘Dolly’ Walling, Robert Guy and Joseph Copeland.”
Shutzer said she met Walling when she became a councilwoman in 1992 and was named liaison to the Council on Aging.
“It was Dolly who taught me how to do this job. It was Dolly who arranged all of the busing for our seniors,” Shutzer said. “She took calls at all hours of the day and night, and she scheduled all of the medical and shopping trips. She was the moving force behind the acquisition of our first seniors bus, and she would not rest until all was well with our seniors.”
Walling died in December, days from her 96th birthday, Shutzer said.
“She was one of my heroes, and I shall miss her terribly,” Shutzer said.
Guy, who also died in December, was a former chief of the Freehold Fire Department. Calling Guy a “gentle giant” and a “quiet, but devoted” man, Shutzer said he served the town as a volunteer firefighter for more than 50 years.
“Perhaps the most dynamic thing he did was to instill in his three children, and therefore his many grandchildren, the need to serve their community,” the councilwoman said.
She said Copeland was a loyal and dear friend to all in the borough. She said his family, his town and his country were his passions.
“He argued about everything, but it was that vehemence that made him so truly delightful,” Shutzer said. “There is nothing that Joe would not have done for Freehold or for any of us.”
Copeland served on so many committees that Shutzer said it would be impossible to list them all.
“Joe loved life and lived it to the fullest. I have never known a man who enjoyed good food and drink as much as he did,” she said. “And I have never known a man took such enormous pleasure in serving.”
The councilwoman referred to Elton John’s song “The Circle of Life” and quoted a line from the song: “You should never take more than you give.” She said if this is in fact true, then these three people lived exemplary lives.
“In truth,” she said, “they expected nothing in return for their service, but we owe them a debt that we can never repay.”