On May 9, 2019, The Two Hundred Club of Essex celebrated its 53rd Anniversary…53 years of dedicated service to the dependents of police and Firefighters in Essex County and state troopers in New Jersey who lose their lives in the line of duty. The Club celebrated this milestone at its Annual Valor Awards luncheon at Nanina’s In The Park in Belleville, NJ with an extensive program.

As you know, the purpose of this luncheon is, and has always been, to honor our police officers and Firefighters of Essex County, who demonstrate exceptional courage and fortitude while performing their duties throughout the year.

This year, we were grateful to acknowledge twenty individuals who exemplified outstanding on-the-job performances.

Our luncheon began with the Newark Firefighters Pipe Band leading in this year’s Valor Award recipients. Lori A. Hennon-Bell, Vice President & Chief Security Officer/Global Security, Prudential Financial and President of the Two Hundred Club, gave a warm welcome and introduced Newark Police Detective Maysa Washington, who afforded the luncheon guests with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Ms. Hennon-Bell continued her welcome message and inspired us with an encouraging overview of the Club’s achievements and its future goals.

As our program continued we were able to receive words from Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, Honorary Trustee/Executive Committee Member of the Two Hundred Club, who saluted our finest and bravest.

Sheriff Fontoura proceeded to inform the audience that 2018 was another costly year in terms of lives lost by brave law enforcement officers and courageous firefighters. Representing public safety departments across our nation, 134 law enforcement officers and 93 firefighters died in the line of duty.

Sheriff Fontoura went on to say that while Essex County was spared our New Jersey neighbors were not as fortunate. On January 5, 2018, Lt. Christopher Robateau of the Jersey City Police Department, NJ was struck and killed by a vehicle while checking on the welfare of another driver who had been involved in an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, near exit 14. On April 22, 2018, Police Officer Tamby Yagan of the Paterson Police Department, NJ was killed in a vehicle crash. He suffered fatal injuries when his patrol car collided with a parked vehicle. On Nov. 26, 2018, cancer took the life of NJSP Trooper Robert Nagle. Trp. Nagle acquired this illness during extended search and recovery operations follow the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. In 1983, Perth Amboy Firefighter Douglas Ambrozewycz suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns after falling through the floor at a residential fire. Since then, the firefighter contacted Hepatitis C as a result of multiple blood transfusions. He eventually succumbed on June 10, 2018. Englishtown Chief Fire Engineer Pasquale DiBenedetto died of a stroke after returning home from a call for a faulty CO Detector at his firehouse on July 30, 2018. On Nov. 21, 2018, Firefighter Michael Galay of Green Knoll Fire Rescue was found unresponsive in his bed after having returned from a commercial fire. The exact nature and cause of death are still to be determined. And, on Christmas Day 2018, Firefighter Natalie Dempsey of the Mizpah Volunteer Fire Department died in an automobile crash as she was responding to a residential fire.

Sheriff Fontoura asked the audience to take a look at the Honor Roll page in the luncheon program to see that in Essex County 87 brave police officers and courageous firefighters have made the supreme sacrifice on our behalf. He said “these valiant officers and firefighters hold a special place in our hearts and in the hearts of the people they served. We mourn their untimely deaths.” Sheriff Fontoura then asked everyone to bow their heads and offer a moment of silent prayer as we reflect and remember all fallen police officers and firefighters.

The Two Hundred Club of Essex County was honored to have The Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey, as its guest speaker. In her keynote address, Lieutenant Governor Oliver said “Everybody is not built for what you do”. Lieutenant Governor Oliver proceeded to reassure the officers and public safety personnel that they are needed stating that someone during their lifetime will need an emergency services technician, a firefighter or police officer.

Reverend Monsignor Christopher J. Hynes, Assistant to the Archbishop for Public Affairs, Archdiocese of Newark, graciously provided a warm and inspirational Benediction.

In closing, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the following organizations for their participation as 2019 Corporate Luncheon Sponsors:

CAW, LLC
COLUMBIA BANK
ESSEX COUNTY FIRE CHIEF’S ASSOCIATION
ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, SHERIFF ARMANDO B. FONTOURA
GATEWAY GROUP ONE
INVESTORS BANK
LISBON CLEANING INC.
MAFFEY’S SECURITY GROUP
MANZO DOREN ORGANIZATION, LLC
MASTER ELECTRIC SERVICE & MAINTENANCE CORP.
NEW JERSEY STATE TROOPERS FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION
PSE&G
PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL
RED ROCK CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
SPIRIT LOGISTICS NETWORK
STERLING SECURITIES LLC

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Shelia Y. Oliver

Two Hundred Club of Essex County / 53rd Annual Valor Awards luncheon Guest Speaker, State of New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver.

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura gives the Honor Roll of law enforcement officers and firefighters who died this past year. The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Nanina’s In The Park, Belleville, NJ.

Click Here

Essex County Sheriff's Office and Newark Police Division

The 200 Club of Essex County presented Valor Awards to Essex County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Abdullah Holmes and Ricardo Rickards and Newark Police Division Detective Emanuel Pereira for their heroic actions on August 20, 2018; the arrest of a suspect armed with two semi-automatic weapons.