MORRIS COUNTY

Town Tours: Who's Who in Morris Plains

STAFF REPORT

Editor's note: This is the third in a series of articles featured in a weeklong tour of Morris Plains. The Daily Record will have extra coverage through Saturday of the borough, its people, its culture and its history.

Richard Ryan, left, of Morris Plains, listens as Larry Ripley, of Morris Plains, talks about town issues with Frank Druetzler, right, mayor of Morris Plains, at a Town Tours Coffee Chat meeting on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014.

In November, the Daily Record asked for readers to nominate notable Morris Plains residents for our Town Tours series.

The nominees included a long-time resident who has organized countless blood drives and served as president of the Rotary Club and an administrative assistant in the school district who "does the work of three people."

Below is a sample of essays received.

Larry Ripley, of Morris Plains at the Daily Record Town Tours Coffee Chat meeting on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014.

Larry Ripley

I would like to nominate Larry Ripley for Morris Plains Who's Who. Larry is a 30-plus year resident and civic leader in Morris Plains and here are just a few of his volunteer activities:

• Master of Ceremonies for the Morris Plains annual Memorial Day Parade.

• Morris Plains Rotarian, past chapter president and current District Governor for NNJ.

• Chairman of the blood drives for the Morris Area Chapter of the Red Cross held in Morris Plains. Larry took on this drive which was occurring maybe 4 times per year and brought it up to at least 10 drives per year.

If there is a community event in town, there's Larry volunteering. As an example, I attended a free rabies clinic for pets in town a few years ago and there was Larry registering everyone and their pets.

Some of the things people do not see Larry doing are his wellness visits on friends and the elderly who are recovering from various illnesses or surgeries.

I am only citing a few examples of Larry's volunteer activities that I have witnessed in-person and I do not even live in Morris Plains. I'm sure I only see a small percentage.

I have known Larry for 15 years, mostly through his volunteerism, and have always admired his selfless attitude. I have never heard someone speak badly of Larry and, more importantly, I've never heard Larry speak ill of someone else. I believe he embraces his volunteer role because he loves Morris Plains and truly cares about people; friends and strangers alike. Look for the Ripley Family Band (comprised of Larry, his children and grandchildren) performing at Robert's Garden park in the coming summers.

-Written by Matt Kelly

Morris Plains Borough School

Susan Vere

Susan Vere, administrative assistant to the (school) superintendent and director of transportation for the district, has served the district for more than 25 years. She has been the district's rock as well as a beacon of grace and cheer for all who come in contact with her.

Susan does the work of three people for the district. She is exacting and driven in the numerous highly-detailed state reports for which she alone is responsible each year. Her standards are similarly high for creating and maintaining bus routes for the district students from K through 12. She is creates and maintains voluminous confidential records, as well as detailed board of education public and committee agendas, with painstaking and thorough backup.

Susan is blessed with a high degree of energy and spirit, but what really drives her is a genuine love for the Morris Plains School District. She gets things done on time and "right" out of a desire that Morris Plains Schools deserve the best. An email or message to her is promptly and efficiently dealt with —seemingly no matter what time of day you send it!

As a former Board of Education president for seven years, I relied heavily on Susan's good cheer, humor and wise counsel. Few people get to see all the things she does and how well she does them; she is highly respected by colleagues, to the general public she is "unsung."

I would love to see her get acknowledged as the true gem that she is in the crown of the Morris Plains School District.

-Written by Lee Connor

Terri Kang on Susan: I have been on the board for more than twenty years and have found Susan to be an anchor for our district. She is certainly an unsung hero in my eyes.

Wayne Marek on Susan: I worked with Susan from 2009 to 2013 as a member of the Board of Education and I have to say that she is one of the most reliable, pleasant and unfailingly gracious and giving people I know, and yet never seeks the spotlight!

Morris Plains residents meet with Daily Record reporter Michael Izzo and local editor Eva Abreu during the Town Tours Morris Plains Coffee Chat meeting at Healthy and Delicious restaurant on Nov. 15, 2014.

Mayor Frank Druetzler

Several people also wrote in on behalf of the mayor of Morris Plains, Frank Druetzler.

Nancy Shivas, wrote:

"Frank Druetzler is the mayor of Morris Plains and he gives of himself constantly. Besides the political issues of the town, the mayor is always looking out for the people. He will actually drive up and down the streets of our town making sure all is as it should be. And if you are a long-time resident of the town, he will know who you are and your name will always be remembered. Everyone recognizes the mayor when he wears his Uncle Sam costume for our annual Memorial Day parade; the outfit always seems to fit. The kids of the our town enjoy seeing their mayor during his parade route walk as Uncle Sam."

Morris Plains Mayor Frank Druetzler sports a patriotic outfit for Memorial Day in 2011.

Sheriff Ed Rochford, a Morris Plains resident, wrote:

Morris Plains municipal building

"He quietly goes about his business to make Morris Plains an excellent community to live in. He always drives throughout town looking for potholes or potential problems and has them fixed immediately. He and his fellow councilmen/women brought Honeywell to the borough and that will stabilize our taxes. He leads by example and the town employees have followed his example. It is a pleasure walking into Borough Hall and be greeted by smiling, customer service-oriented employees. Morris Plains is known as the "Community of Caring," and it certainly is. I am proud to say I am a resident of Morris Plains and I thank Frank Druetzler and his fellow councilmen/women for making Morris Plains a great place to live."

Check back as we continue to update this story with additional reader letters and recommendations.

Send your Morris Plains photos and letters to eabreu@dailyrecord.com or mizzo@dailyrecord.com

In this 1974 photo submitted by Judith Seibel of Morris Plains, 3-year-old Mark Seibel waves to the camera while playing at a playground.

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Town Tours Morris Plains

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