22 May ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2023 ESSEX COUNTY SENIOR CITIZEN LEGACIES WRITING CONTEST
Published on May 22, 2023
Cedar Grove, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and the Division of Senior Services announced the four winners and four honorable mention recipients of the 2023 Essex County Senior Citizen Legacies Writing Contest during an awards luncheon at the Robert O’Toole Community Center in Essex County Cedar Grove Park on Monday, May 22nd. The Legacies Writing Contest encourages Essex senior citizens to write essays about the people and events that have influenced their lives.
“Our Senior Citizen Legacies Writing Contest is a unique way for our older population to share their life’s stories and describe the people and events that helped to shape their lives,” DiVincenzo said. “Our seniors’ stories make you laugh and they touch your heart. They provide us with a different perspective on historical events and what our society was like,” he added.
“I was an English teacher for 30 years before I retired, and I am thrilled so many people wrote essays and are participating in this year’s contest,” Commissioner Patricia Sebold said.
Selected as winners of the 2023 Senior Citizen Legacies Writing Contest were Newark resident Edna Lewis who wrote “Enjoy Your Lunch,” Caldwell resident Eva M. Ogens who wrote “Paying It Forward,” Nutley resident Linda Ann Buset who wrote “Dying from AIDS in the 1980s: A Family Perspective” and West Orange resident Mary Lauri Bartola who wrote “How Life Threw Me a Curve, And I Fought Back.” Receiving honorable mentions were Verona resident Coni Evans who wrote “Getting Old Ain’t for Sissies,” Maplewood resident Pamela L. Gaston who wrote “The Meanest Mother in the World,” Bloomfield resident Paula Zaccone who wrote “Four Family Stars” and Montclair resident John Falzer who wrote “Morphine & The Fireman’s Wife.”
Newark resident Edna Lewis wrote “Enjoy Your Lunch,” which was selected as one of the winning stories. Thirty years ago, Ms. Lewis was working on the 34th floor of the World Trade Center when a bomb was detonated in the basement of the North Tower. It was a normal day at work, the temperature outside was cold but it was sunny. Shortly after 12 noon when she broke for lunch, the lights flickered and smoke began to fill the room. People began to walk down the steps. The stairwells were crowded, dark and filled with smoke and people were crammed together like sardines. Suddenly there was sunlight and teams of firefighters were helping the people exiting the building. Strangers helped Ms. Lewis get home to Newark. “I never knew that in 20 minutes, from that phone call, I would be facing the challenge to live. Needless to say, I didn’t get to enjoy my lunch,” she writes.
Caldwell resident Eva M. Ogens wrote “Paying It Forward,” which was selected as one of the winning stories. Ms. Ogens writes about three of her teachers who influenced her the most: First there was her seventh-grade French teacher who had a deep voice, then there was her 10th grade biology teacher Ted Janner and finally it was her junior year chemistry teacher William Monroe. They each were passionate about the subjects they taught and went the extra mile to ensure their students understood the lessons. From the time she was 7 years old, Ms. Ogens knew she wanted to be a teacher and has enjoyed a 44-year career. “These teachers greatly influenced my life and made a difference. I hope that over the past 44 years of teaching, I, too, will leave a legacy and have an impact on the thousands of students I have taught,” she writes.
Nutley resident Linda Ann Buset wrote “Dying from AIDS in the 1980s: A Family Perspective,” which was selected as one of the winning essays. Not much was known about HIV and AIDS during the 1980s, and those who contracted the disease were not treated well. This included Ms. Buset’s brother-in-law Joseph. While others stayed away in fear, Ms. Buset’s family stayed with Joseph. Her two children played in his room and, when she gave birth to another son, she brought the newborn to Joseph so he could hold him. “In a world where no one wanted to be in the same room, breathe the same air, or touch his hand, he held that new little life in his arms,” she wrote. “When I picture that day in my mind, I do not feel fear, but gratitude for allowing me to give Joseph that gift.”
West Orange resident Mary Lauri Bartola wrote “How Life Threw Me a Curve, And I Fought Back,” which was selected as one of the winning essays. Ms. Bartola was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 13 and has lived with pain throughout her life. Wearing a brace in high school seemingly corrected the problem, but the pain worsened when she entered the workforce after college. Ms. Bartola underwent surgery, which again helped with the pain for a while. In 2021, the pain returned and, after research, she found another doctor to do a second surgery. The next hurdle she overcame was convincing the insurance company to cover the expense. “It had been a long journey. I always want to believe that someday, all the pieces would fall into place. I knew it wouldn’t be easy; nothing worth fighting for ever is. But I was confident the result would be spectacular,” she writes.
Verona resident Coni Evans wrote “Getting Old Ain’t for Sissies,” which received an honorable mention. Ms. Evans writes that she was an active person growing up and always was on the go as a nurse in a private medical practice. As she got older, however, she experienced more aches and pains and struggled to keep up with the physical demands of her job. She retired at the age of 65 and immersed herself in a variety of activities for senior citizens and initiatives to benefit her hometown. “I feel satisfied with my life now. I no longer feel that my age is a disadvantage. Sure, I have many aches and pains, and I am developing the medical problems you would expect from someone who will turn 70 in a few months,” she writes. There is more that Ms. Evans wants to accomplish because she “ain’t no sissy.”
Maplewood resident Pamela L. Gaston wrote “The Meanest Mother in the World,” which received an honorable mention. Ms. Gaston’s mother was a strict disciplinarian who made her children follow her rules while they were growing up. They had to be home by a certain time, were responsible for doing chores, could only watch the news on television and were expected to do well in school. Ms. Gaston thanks her mother for being mean because she and her sisters all graduated from college, had good jobs and were recognized or giving back to the community. “Who do we have to blame for the way we turned out? You’re right, our mean mother,” she writes. “But then, we also never got the chance to feel lost, alone, helpless or unloved.”
Bloomfield resident Paula Zaccone wrote “Four Family Stars,” which received an honorable mention. Ms. Zaccone’s essay is about her four uncles who all served in the military during World War II. Uncle Anthony was a lieutenant colonel in the Army and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Avricourt. He received numerous medals, also served during the Korean War and was in the Army Reserves for 30 years. Uncle John fought in the Battle of the Bulge and ran the family business after being discharged. Uncle Al was a sergeant in the Army. Uncle Artie served in the Navy and later became a teacher. All four men “did their best to effect a happier and safer world” and will “forever be my stars and my heroes,” Zaccone writes.
Montclair resident John Falzer wrote “Morphine & The Fireman’s Wife,” which received an honorable mention. Mr. Falzer was drugged with morphine while recuperating from cancer treatments when he was “introduced” to a man named Frank and his family. There was a lot of commotion from Frank’s family when he was brought into the hospital room, and it intensified when Frank needed emergency medical attention. Even though they only shared a room for four days, Mr. Falzer got to know members of Frank’s family. It was discomforting to learn that while he would recover from his cancer, Frank, who was 20 years younger, would not.
During the ceremony, the winning stories were read by Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology Junior Sydney Barnes, Sophomores Jally Romero and Johnathan Martinez, and Freshman Heisha Francisco. Lunch for attending seniors was provided by the culinary arts program from Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology.
Sponsored by the Essex County Division of Senior Services, the Legacies Writing Contest was started in 1996 and was part of a national contest which encouraged senior citizens to discover the joys of writing while sharing their stories with others. Although the national contest was discontinued in 1998, the Essex County Division of Senior Services continued to sponsor the Legacies Writing Contest on a local level. Entries are judged on the writer’s ability to engage the reader with humor, emotional impact or rich descriptions. Winning stories were selected by a committee of volunteer judges and staff from the Essex County Division of Senior Services.
The Essex County Division of Senior Services offers a wide range of services to eligible Essex County senior citizens. The Division offers adult protective services, provides basic transportation services, administers adult day care centers, offers counseling services for caregivers, provides home delivered meals and offers visiting nurse services. For more information, please call 973-395-8375.
