Seven selected to MRHS Hall of Fame

BY JOSH DAVIDSON
Staff Writer

ABERDEEN — Seven local community members are now a part of the Matawan Regional High School Hall of Fame.

The inductees were introduced during halftime at the school’s football game Oct. 18.

Recognitions are received in two categories, said Fran M. Adler, president of the Matawan Regional High School Hall of Fame/Alumni Association. The first have graduated from a district high school.

"They’ve exemplified their involvement in the community and are good role models for the students of Matawan," Adler said.

The other category includes usually one person who is affiliated with the community but did not graduate from its high school, she said.

This year, selected from that category was the Rev. Denise Mantell of the Trinity Episcopal Church, Matawan, who was chaplain at the World Trade Center’s ground zero in 2001.

Michael Wells II, who graduated in 1983, and Glenn Caldera, a 1981 graduate, who both established the Matawan Regional High School winter guard program in 1990, were inducted together.

Winter guard is a competitive group that is the high school’s indoor version of the color guard, said Caldera, of Aberdeen.

"It’s put to taped music," he said. "It’s kind of like a Broadway production, but it’s put in a gymnasium," he said.

The new inductees spoke to the students at the high school on Thursday, Oct. 16, about their time at the school, the importance of furthering their education, and their present employment.

Wells, Old Bridge, enjoyed the reception from the students at the assembly, he said.

"When they announced us, there was such a roar out there, I felt like I was at the MTV music awards," he said.

Gerry Wells, Michael’s brother, is the high school’s band leader.

"It was sort of like a dream of ours," Michael said. "Now I am working for my brother, which is great."

The district has two winter guard squads, Caldera said. The varsity squad, called Enigma, and the junior varsity division, Genesis, have won numerous state awards, he said. The district has been supportive and funds the groups’ trips to competitions, he said.

"We always seem to make it work," he said.

John Donald McQuarrie, a 1953 graduate, is also a new Hall of Fame member.

"It’s great; it’s a terrific honor. I feel very good about it," McQuarrie said.

McQuarrie was a four-letter scholar playing football, baseball, basketball and running track. Upon graduation, he went to Seton Hall University, South Orange, on a four-year track scholarship, he said.

He was president of the high school’s student council.

"I had a lot of good memories at Matawan Regional High School," McQuarrie said.

McQuarrie met his wife, Virginia Banafato, at the school and has lived in Matawan his whole life to stay close to his seven children, who live throughout New Jersey, he said.

"Our biggest claim to fame is our 21 grandchildren," he said.

Other inductees are Eugene Hyman, who graduated in 1968 and has been a Superior Court judge in Santa Clara County, Calif., since 1997.

Also inducted were Joan Osipowitz Paterna, a 1966 graduate, who is a professor of psychology at Manchester Community College in Connecticut, and Sister Patricia Schladebeck, a 1962 graduate, who has been director of religious education at St. Catharine’s Parish, Holmdel, for 17 years, according to a Matawan Regional High School Hall of Fame/Alumni Association press release.