Six individuals with strong ties to Warren County from a variety of backgrounds will be inducted into the Warren County Hall of Fame on Saturday night, Nov. 5.

The annual event, presented by the Warren County Community College Foundation, will take place at Hawk Point Golf Club. The public is invited to this gala affair.

This year’s honorees include: Dr. Nick Avallone (healthcare), Charles Fineran (law enforcement/environment/volunteer), Paul Sterbenz (business/non-profit supporter), Carolyn Wolf (volunteer), and Gary Gray (business/supporter of non-profits), and posthumously Marie Maier (business/volunteer).      

Dr. Nick Avallone

Dr. Avallone was selected as the Sports Medicine Provider of the Year at the 2019 St. Luke’s All Star Awards program, and with good reason! An orthopedic physician who treats a wide variety of disorders with a sub-specially in sports medicine. Not only did he do a residency with professional sports teams including the NY Jets, NY Islanders, and New England Patriots, and now in his current role is the team physician for Phillipsburg High, Delaware Valley Regional, Warren Hills Regional, Belvidere High and Warren Tech. He has also been recognized as a “Top Doc” for orthopedics surgery by Inside New Jersey and Jersey’s Best magazines five years in a row.

Charles A. Fineran

A retired State Trooper, Charles “Charlie” Fineran is well known in the region for his many endeavors with a host of environmental, historic preservation and recreation issues. Earlier this year he was named the Mary Louise Christine Outstanding Senior Citizen of Warren County. As the Open Space Director for Allamuchy he has obtained numerous grants for trail and road cleanups. He was a core committee member who worked with Allamuchy’s municipal government and Board of Education in acquiring the Rutherford property to expand the school district and to make Rutherfurd Hall a successful historic site that is used for multiple purposes. He is the President of the Allamuchy Historical Society and volunteers for the Friends of Rutherford. He is well known for taking thousands of photos of outdoor scenes, wildlife, and historical sites that he shares on InsideWarren.com and other social media platforms.

Paul Sterbenz

Paul Sterbenz is one of the region’s premier engineers, working with numerous communities, but more than that he has embraced the community as someone who gives back. He is active in many non- profits including Abilities of Northwest Jersey where he has been a board member for 15 years. He and his family also created a community-based trail at Warren Community College where he also hosts the annual Miles of Smiles charity run with his son James to raise money for individuals with disabilities.

Carolyn Wolf

Carolyn “Kerry” Wolf is what you would call a “volunteer lifer.” She has many years of civic engagement in Warren County. She was the President of the Arc of Warren County and one of its first executive directors. She started Project First Step, a critical early intervention program. She was chair of the Human Services Council and is an active member of the Warren County Transportation Committee. She was active in promoting the Special Olympics and has always been an advocate for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kerry was very involved in community organizations such as the Warren Hospital Auxiliary and she also served on Board of the Phillipsburg Library.

Gary Gray

Gary Gray was born and raised in Warren County and is a graduate of Belvidere High School. After graduating from high school he immediately went to work with a contracting company. A few years later he bought a truck and started a garbage collection company. Fast forward and that simple start became hugely successful; at one time Gary Gray Trucking had 600 trucks on the road. Gary has parlayed his own good fortune by helping others. He built athletic fields at North Warren High School and at Tunnel Field in Knowlton Township. He is extremely giving, providing much help to many non-profits in the area. He says, “Giving back to the community is a wonderful thing. I am blessed to be able to do that.” 

Marie A. Maier

Marie Maier, along with her husband, started Educational Products, Inc. manufacturing the first plastic cookie cutters in the U.S. In 1953, she and her husband bought a farm in Hope and soon after opened up the Land of Make Believe Amusement Park, in 1954. Land of Make Believe is the oldest and largest family operated water and amusement park in NJ. She was one of the founding members of the Sussex/North Warren Girl Scouts Council. organized a Mothers Club at the Hope School, and was an original member of the Hope Historical Society. Marie was active in the Red Cross during hurricane Diane in 1955. In 2009 when she turned 100, she received many accolades and legislative proclamations for her efforts in the community.

For ticket and sponsorship information please email samir@warren.edu or go to https://conta.cc/3RPYbo7.

Photo by Cathy Miller: L-R: Gary W. Gray, Dr. Nicholas J. Avallone, Carolyn A. Wolf, Paul  M. Sterbenz, Charles A. Fineran, Jr.