Madison woman named ‘Crossing Guard of the Year’

MADISON – A Central Avenue School crossing guard has been named School Crossing Guard of the Year, selected for the national commendation from a group of more than 100 candidates.

Mary Marano, a resident of Madison for 35 years and a crossing guard for 17, won the award, issued by Advanced Safety, a Boonton-based traffic safety service.

“It’s really overwhelming. I was very surprised when I was told I won out of 120 candidates,” Marano said. “I just do my job. I love my job and I love the kids, so it’s really a surprise for this to happen.”

Marano was named after the committee received recommendations from her peers and the Madison Police Department on her behalf.

“From recommendations from the Patrol Training Officer, Traffic Division, and her peers, Mary’s resume stood at the top as a 17-year crossing guard veteran,” said Daniel Worts, owner of Advanced Safety and a retired police lieutenant. “This is a reflection not only on Mary, but on the professionalism of Madison Borough and the Madison Police Department as a whole.”

Marano was hired by Madison as a crossing guard in 1998, and currently crosses children at her post near the Central Avenue School, one of the busiest post in the borough according to Worts.

“During her tenure as a school crossing guard she has built a reputation within the community as a reliable, competent and trustworthy guard, having a love for the children that she crosses each day,” Worts said. “Mary crosses over 300 school children every day, year after year.”

Students know Marano by her collection of pins, most of them Disney themed, that she wears on her crossing guard vest.

The collection started with a single Disney pin that she wore on her vest, but soon children began giving her new ones to add to her collection.

Marano quickly collected enough that the vest began to weigh her down. Now she keeps a large portion of the collection at home.

“Sometimes a kid will come back and ask where their pin went,” Marano said. “I tell them ‘I still remember your name, doesn’t that count?’”

The current collection of Disney pins on her vest range from holiday-themed like Fourth of July and Halloween to popular movies like “Lilo and Stitch” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” One of her favorites is a pin featuring Mickey Mouse in a Boston Red Sox uniform, her favorite team, worn so often the paint is chipping off Mickey’s face.

As Marano walked by Central Avenue School Tuesday, residents waved hello as they drove past. A few borough workers, hearing the news, stopped to congratulate her on winning Crossing Guard of the Year.

“Former students,” she said.

Marano is also the field training instructor for new Madison crossing guards. The borough employs about 30 guards at a time and most log up to 20 hours on the job with Marano before they go off to their individual posts.

“Being a school crossing guard holds an important responsibility. Children have a narrower field of vision, cannot easily judge a car’s speed, and may be impatient and impulsive,” Worts said. “Understanding the importance and challenges of being a school crossing guard, Marano has served the children of Madison and the citizens of Madison to the highest standards and we are proud to recognize her efforts”

Worts said Marano goes beyond what’s required of her, remaining at her post if a parent is late or taking a child to school herself.

“It was those qualities and her love for her profession that we are proud to select her as School Crossing Guard of the Year,” Worts said, who stressed the importance of crossing guards for child safety.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child pedestrian fatalities are greatest in May, June and July, with 36 percent of school age pedestrians occurring between 3 and 4 p.m. In 2010, 4,280 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 70,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the U.S.

Marano will be awarded a plaque at an upcoming Madison council meeting.

“I’ll do my job as long as I can,” Marano said. “As long as I can keep walking, I’ll be out there.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com

Go to www.schoolcrossingguard.net to learn more.