Schools

Foundation to Honor Dedication to Education

The East Brunswick Education Foundation Partner in Excellence Dinner will be held on Tuesday, March 27.

The East Brunswick Education Foundation (EBEF) will hold its Annual Partner in Excellence Dinner on Tuesday, March 27 at the Pines Manor beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Each year the Foundation honors school and community leaders who contribute to the Foundation’s goal of supporting excellence in the East Brunswick Public Schools. This year the Foundation will honor educators Patricia LaDuca and Thomas Smith, Dr. Andrew Boyarsky, Rollie Davis and Stuart Davis/Davis Realtors and Marilyn Friedes of Davis Realtors.

Patricia LaDuca, currently the Director of Community Relations and Programs for the district, is a life-long advocate for public education and has been a member of the Foundation since its early years.  Honored to serve as the district’s administrative liaison to the EBEF, LaDuca combines her passion for the East Brunswick Public Schools with her belief in the Foundation’s mission to enhance and enrich the curriculum.

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Tom Smith retired from the East Brunswick Public Schools in January 2009 after 32 years in education.  Starting in 1992, he served as the Supervisor of Science and Gifted & Talented Education.

Smith has a passion for science and has always wanted to share with young people the wonders of how the natural world works, championing the importance of science education starting in kindergarten. Through Smith’s efforts, the science program was one of the first academic subjects in the district to use technology to assist students in their work. In addition, several science electives, including Forensic Science, Marine Biology and Anatomy & Physiology were added to the high school course catalog. All of these programs received support over the years from the East Brunswick Education Foundation. The Gifted and Talented Program also achieved many milestones during Smiths time in the district. The teachers in the program developed many innovative projects that received strong support from the East Brunswick Education Foundation.

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Dr. Andrew Boyarsky is a long-time resident of East Brunswick and a proud product of the East Brunswick Public School system. Having graduated from East Brunswick High School (EBHS) in 1970, he went on to get his medical degree from Rutgers Medical School. Andy and his wife, Rosalie, settled in East Brunswick largely because of the excellent reputation of the school system, and have never regretted this decision. Their two sons, Jeffrey and Brian, are graduates of EBHS. Dr. Boyarsky has been very involved in the Mario DeCarolis Memorial Music Fund through the EBEF. "Mr. D" was Dr. Boyarsky's music teacher and mentor for many years while in high school. Dr. Boyarsky has been helping Mr. D.’s daughter, Yvonne De Carolis, perpetuate her father's memory with a series of concerts, musical demonstrations and scholarships for the children of the school system.

Rollie Davis and her husband, Henry, also chose to live in East Brunswick because of the school system. Davis fully embraced and appreciated all that the community had to offer.  Volunteering as a Brownie leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, class mother, chaperone, and board member of the East Brunswick Jewish Center Youth Commission, she sought opportunities to help broaden students’ education and development. Throughout the years, Davis has supported the EBEF in recognition of its vital importance to our schools, acknowledging that a fine school system attracts newcomers to town, thus ensuring our continuing prosperity as a community.

Rollie’s son, Stuart Davis, is a life-long resident of East Brunswick and a graduate of EBHS. He has been a strong and constant supporter of the East Brunswick Education Foundation since its inception, participating in all aspects of its fundraising efforts. Along with a mission to provide the highest quality of real estate service available, Stuart believes in the necessity and power of a comprehensive education that encourages giving back to the community.

Within a few months of the Foundation’s beginnings, Marilyn Friedes was recruited to help the Board of Trustees understand our community’s housing trends; she continues to provide insight into the impact of property values on the quality of education that the Foundation strives to achieve. A real estate agent with Davis Realtors, formerly Rollie Davis Realty, since 1985, Marilyn has been bringing people to Central New Jersey for many years. In addition to being a trustee of EBEF, she serves on the boards of the East Brunswick Jewish Center and the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County.  For the last 13 years, she has found great satisfaction providing "one-on-one" counseling for the Cancer Hope Network to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

There are several ways for community members to support this event, the Education Foundation’s major event of the year. Community members are welcome to attend the dinner. The cost is $60. The Foundation will also accept monetary donations for anyone wanting to recognize the honorees. Also, associated with the dinner, there is a “Spectacular Raffle” with a limited number of tickets available.

First prize is a 42 inch plasma HDTV donated by Gabowitz TV and Appliance. Second prize is an 18-hole round of golf for a foursome at TPC Jasna Polana, complete with complimentary greens and cart fees donated by Paul Shur. Third prize is an 18-hole round of golf for a foursome at Forsgate Country Club, complete with complimentary greens and cart fees donated by Frank LaDuca. Fourth Prize is “Dine Around Gift Certificate Package” that includes a variety of restaurants from around the area. All of this and more information can be found by visiting the Foundation’s website at www.ebef.org.


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