This year’s Warren County Hall of Fame has rolled a winning Seven. Indeed, after a year break from Hall of Fame inductions due to COVID, the Class of 2021 features seven of the most deserving individuals running the gamut of backgrounds from business to community leadership and volunteerism. This year’s inductees include Deirdre Bryant Worth, Rick Gardner, Scott Wolfe, Frank William “Bill” Clifford, Brian Kathenes, and Christine L. Rusin, and posthumously Joseph Steinhardt, Sr. 

“An amazing group of people,” said Samir Elbassiouny, Executive Director of the Warren Community College Foundation, which presents the Hall of Fame event each year. “All seven of them are incredibly deserving and are the epitome of what being a Warren County Hall of Famer is all about.”

The seven will be honored at a gala dinner event at Hawk Pointe Golf Club on Saturday night, Nov. 6. The event, which is also a fundraiser for the college foundation, includes musical entertainment. For tickets and other information about the event go to http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=bvijo9cab&oeidk=a07eiif27xd376a8a19 or email samir@warren.edu. 

A little bit about each of this year’s inductees: 

Deirdre Bryant Worth; In addition to being the first woman to anchor a national radio news broadcast (ABC News Radio), she is most known locally for hosting myriad community radio shows over the years on WRNJ, including those focusing on education and local business, and also for co-hosting numerous radiothons for the Arc of Warren County and Hackettstown Medical Center, as well as other special shows.  Deirdre also coordinates a volunteer performance group called the Tap Divas which performs at many local functions. 

Rick Gardner; The longest serving freeholder in Warren County history, Rick retired this past year and left office with the kind of legacy that most politicians can only dream of. Known as being a true gentleman, Rick helped many, many people over the years and was always looking out everyone’s best interest in making decisions. He is most proud of revitalizing – and expanding – the county library system. While he is retired from politics, Rick is not retired from his “day job” – he owns a farm in Franklin Township. “My passion throughout my life has always been agriculture,” he says.

Christine L. Rusin; Christine is an award-winning filmmaker, published poet and a fine art photographer. A pioneer in the video production field (she was the first female in NJ to own a major company), her media company Parashoot Productions has been in business for 36 years. She ran the Hope and Dreams Film Festival in Hope for many years, drawing filmmakers from throughout the United States to town. Christine has also been a volunteer with many non-profits such as the American Cancer Society and NORWESCAP, and is a founding member of Friends of Swayze, Inc. (which has restored and paired the Swayze Cemetery), and is a past president of the Belvidere Rotary. 

Scott Wolfe; Scott has been President of St. Luke’s Warren Campus for the past seven years, and has been instrumental in engaging the community to numerous health-related projects. His efforts in raising the recognition of St. Luke’s Warren Campus as an important facility have been acknowledged throughout the region. Scott was particularly seen a true leader during this past year and a half of COVID and in dealing with the implications of the pandemic in the local community. In addition, Scott is on many community centered boards.

Frank William “Bill” Clifford; A lifelong resident of Knowlton Township Billy has been a member of the Knowlton Lions Club for over 43 years, an organization that has collected thousands of eyeglasses for needy individuals and been involved in activities involving Special Olympics and other non-profits. Bill was also part of the Lions Club’s efforts to purchase the Knowlton American Legion Hall which allows the Legion lifetime rights there. He is a life member of Knowlton’s fire department (Chief for seven years), been on the township’s Planning Board, and is a member of the 200 Club. Billy and his family own and operate two farms. He was a member of the Electrician Workers Union for 50 years. Since 1973 has owned a construction business which helped build the Lions Club pavilion on Route 46.

Brian Kathenes; Many may know of Brian as the co-host of Trash or Treasure, a show devoted to appraising old items, first on WRNJ and then through national syndication, but others know him even more for his involvement in the community at-large. Over the years he started the Hope Community Players, has volunteered with Scouts and has served on several boards. Additionally he has served as an EMT instructor. Brian’s love of “lost treasures” has become a vocation for him; he is the Managing Partner of National Appraisal Consultants, LLC. Among the numerous items Brian has been asked to appraise: Rosa Park’s coat (she wore on the bus in Alabama when arrested), artifacts from the Moon, and an Elvis Pressley guitar. He has worked with Nobel Prize winners, US Presidents and Oscar winners.

Joseph Steinhardt, Sr: Joe Steinhardt was a renowned and revered baseball coach at Washington High School (and Warren Hills Regional High School) for many years, leading his teams to eight state championships. He is arguably the greatest coach in Washington/Warren Hills history. He was a favorite of students not only as a coach but as a teacher. Joe was also a highly regarded football referee at the high school level, as well as on the college field where he was in stripes for many big games, including Army-Navy.