Volunteer receives Jack Fay civic award BY COLLEEN LUTOLF Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE — Former Township Councilman Bob Sobieski has been named this year’s Jack Fay Civic Award recipient. The award, established in 2000 by Councilwoman Brenda Yori-Velasco, is presented to a township resident who embodies qualities of public service and civic involvement. To be nominated, a person has to have been a Woodbridge resident for at least 10 years, have held an elected or appointed office and served as a volunteer in community activities. Sobieski of Port Reading, served on the council as a Republican from 1992-96. He originated and serves as the chairman for the John J. Seyler Memorial Buddy Ball Golf Outing. The 2004 award-winner also co-organizes, with his wife, Michelle, the annual Christmas Friendship Dinner at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Port Reading. Since 1992, Sobieski has offered a free Christmas meal to bring together dozens of people alone for the holidays. "I was really touched," Sobieski said of how he felt when he heard he’d won the award. "Everything I’ve done, I do because I enjoy it, especially the Buddy Ball outing and the Friendship Dinner. They’re one-day events, but we put a lot into it." Sobieski, who said he was nominated by Drew Tuttle of the township’s recreation department, did not even know about his nomination when he received a phone call from Velasco telling him he had won the award. "I was surprised when I found out," he said. "I had no idea. No one said anything. I got the phone call ... and I figured I’d been nominated, but then she said I’d won." Velasco said that Sobieski was unanimously voted in by the three-member selection committee. "We’re fortunate with the number of notable people we have in Woodbridge," Velasco said during the ceremony before a recent council meeting. "It’s volunteerism that makes [the township] great." Other civic roles Sobieski has held include president, captain and trustee of the Woodbridge First Aid Squad, Zoning Board vice chairman and secretary, and Woodbridge Little League coach. He is a member of the Woodbridge Elks Lodge 2114 and Don Bosco Knights of Columbus, as well as numerous committees at St. Anthony’s. Sobieski was publicly honored recently at an unveiling of the Jack Fay Award plaque that is now hung in the main hallway at Town Hall. The plaque lists Sobieski and the three previous award recipients. The 2002 Jack Fay Award recipient, the Rev. John L. Dunlap, pastor, of the First Presbyterian Church in Avenel, attended the unveiling. "This is our first year without Jack so it’s become a memorial," he said of the award. He added that the award has become a legacy. "I’m happy to be a part of it," he said. Jack Fay, who held numerous elected and appointed positions on the local and county level including councilman, freeholder, assemblyman and state senator, died last year. "I know Jack is smiling on us now," Mayor Frank Pelzman said at the plaque’s unveiling. "What a guy. He inspired all these other individuals after him. It’s a fitting tribute to Jack, who is an icon as far as I’m concerned."