(Courtesy of Bergenfield Library) On Sunday, June 12, Eva Gallione was formally honored as the most recent recipient of the Lucille Tendler Community Service Award. The ceremony took place at the Bergenfield High School auditorium and featured a performance by the band Forever Young. Created by the Bergenfield Public Library Board of Trustees, this recognizes the service contributions of the recipient to the Bergenfield community. Past winners of the award include Bergenfield residents Joe Verga, Matthew Connell, James Lodato, Joanne Thomas, Robert Armbruster and Anna Ramirez.

A longtime Bergenfield resident, Eva Gallione has spent decades working diligently on behalf of several community interests, including but not limited to, the Bergenfield School district and alumni association and honoring Bergenfield veterans.

Eva is an tireless advocate for the special needs community, where she has offered to teach classes at the school district’s Bear Den program in sewing, cooking and leisure time activities. In addition, Eva and her husband, former mayor Bob Gallione, created a yearly community-based fishing experience at Coopers Pond which has become a cornerstone to many of the community recreational activities at the Bear Den.

Additionally, Eva has worked tirelessly to honor fallen Bergenfield veterans in renaming town parks in their honor. Through her work, she helped to obtain funds for improvements of these parks and to place purple heart medals on veteran municipal street signs. Residents can also see the results of her efforts along Washington Avenue where “Hometown Heroes” banners are hung honoring these veterans.

Before relocating to North Carolina, Lucille Tendler served diligently on the Bergenfield Library’s Board of Trustees for fourteen years, acting as president and secretary. During her tenure, she helped coordinate the library’s comprehensive strategic plan and advocated tirelessly on behalf of the library. In addition to her work with the Bergenfield Library, Tendler was also involved in several other community volunteer projects as well, including the Arts Council. This award is meant to honor her as a model for public service in a town that prides itself on volunteerism and civic engagement.

The Board of Trustees wishes to thank all of the individuals who participated in the nomination process.

For more information, please visit www.bergenfieldlibrary.org  or contact the library at 201-387-4040.