Fifty-nine employees with a combined total of 1,601 years of service were honored Monday by the Vineland Board of Education at the district’s annual retirement dinner, held at the Ramada Inn.

Thirty-two of the retirees – who served the children of Vineland as administrators, teachers, and support staff -- attended the event. Teachers accounted for the largest share of the total years service –997.5. Bus drivers had 145 years combined service and clerical staff 134.5.

Each retiree received a plaque and a swirl paperweight from Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center in Vineland’s colors ---maroon and gray. As in past years, board members introduced each honoree and provided brief biographical data. Each employee was then invited to talk about their experiences in the district and future plans. Many plan to continue working in some fashion, while others expect to spend more time with their spouse or family. Travel was mentioned frequently, along with “just enjoying life.”

All who chose to speak mentioned the joy and challenges of working in education, and the satisfaction of “doing something worthwhile.”

"It is a pleasure and an honor for me and my colleagues to host this event to recognize all of you for your many years of service to this school district,” said Frank Giordano, Vineland Board of Education President.

Jacqueline Gavigan, board vice president, reflected on her family’s decision 12 years ago on the education of their son, Ryan, who is graduating from Vineland High School on June 18. “When our son started school, my husband and I explored the opportunities in our community – and there are options,” she said. “And I’m so glad we chose Vineland Public Schools. I want to thank all of you and your colleagues for providing my son with an excellent academic experience.”

The retirees, their position and most recent assignment, and years of service: Joseph Ardito, teacher, VHS South, 36 years; Nicoletta Barse, school bus driver, 25 years; Robert Barsotti, teacher, VHS South, 32 years; Frances Basile, senior clerk typist, alternative high school, 13 years; Marian Beres, senior clerk typist, IMPACT, 4 years; JoAnn Bertoldi, library aide, Mennies School, 27 years; Mary Ann Bonino, principal clerk stenographer, VHS North, 25.5 years; Mark Brandt, teacher, Veterans Memorial School, 31 years; Wreatha Brandt, instructional aide, Landis School, 33 years; Kerrie Bryan, director of special education, 8 years; Patricia Costello, teacher, Cunningham School, 33 years; Melba Crescenzo, teacher, Durand School, 32 years; Warren Crescenzo, speech-language specialist, district, 28 years; Andrea Cresci-Fallucca, special-language specialist, district, 16 years; Ronald Cropper, teacher, VHS North, 34 years; Sandra D’Ippolito, teacher, Barse School, 41 years; Sally-Jo Delussa, librarian, VHS South, 27 years; Alice DeMarco, cafeteria aide, VHS South, 5 years; Kathleen DiBiase, teacher, Wallace School, 35 years; Michael DiBiase, teacher, VHS South, 35 years; Paula Doe, guidance counselor, Leuchter School, 5 years; Sallie Gartner, speech therapist, Wallace School, 32 years; Nicolina Gazzara, teacher, Mennies School, 34 years; Linda Halter, teacher, VHS North, 28 years; Stephanie Hawkins, teacher, Durand School, 36 years; Kathleen Kelly, instructional aide, Landis School, 28 years; Maria LaBoy, supervisor of instruction, administration, 33 years; Raymond LaBoy, teacher, Landis School, 32 years, Mary D. Larro, school bus driver, 27 years; Richard Lera, teacher, VHS South, 35 years; Evered Levick Jr., teacher, Veterans Memorial School, 19 years; Richard Lindsey, teacher, VHS North, 44 years; Marion Loder, teacher, Wallace School, 2.5 years; Sandra Lovisone, principal data entry machine operator, administration, 28 years; Mary Lundberg, teacher, VHS North, 31 years; Celeste Maloney, senior photostat operator, 35 years; Nancy Masters, teacher, VHS north, 24 years; John Milyo, teacher, VHS North, 25 years; Cheryl Pepitone, teacher, Winslow School, 33 years; Louis Polizzi, school bus driver, 14 years; Celestine Pollock, principal clerk typist, administration, 29 years; Patricia Procaccino, teacher, VHS North, 25 years; Tomas Rodriguez, building maintenance, Rossi School, 22 years; Carmen Ruiz-Mesa, teacher, Mennies School, 33 years; Linda Scavelli, teacher, Mennies School, 35 years; Patricia Severs, food service worker, VHS South, 15 years; Jacqueline Shindel, school bus driver, 40 years; Andrea Smith, teacher, D’Ippolito School, 33 years; Doreen Spinelli, teacher, adult education center, 22 years; Cathy Sterling, school bus driver, 39 years; Betty Ann Tobolski, assistant cook, D’Ippolito School, 27 years; Emelina Torres, teacher, Johnstone School, 28 years; Vivian Uebelacker, teacher, Wallace School 32 years; Dora Vale, teacher, VHS North, 31 years; Lynda Weber, teacher, Rossi School, 23 years; Valerie Weeks, teacher, Wallace School, 13 years; Diane Williams, teacher, Rossi School, 27 years and Charles Zucal, teacher, VHS South, 43 years.

Posthumous honors were recorded for Kathleen Fisher, a special education aide at VHS North, who died on April 30.