Clark Recreation Director Ralph Bernardo, right, and Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, left, present Scott McCabe, center, with the third annual ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award at the township council meeting on Feb. 20.
CLARK, NJ — Scott McCabe not only makes his living with the township’s public works department, but his life revolves around the township.
“When he’s not working for the town, his hands are in so many different directions,” Ralph Bernardo, Clark’s director of recreation, said recently.
McCabe’s dedication to Clark earned him the township’s third annual Volunteer of the Year Award at the Feb. 20 township council meeting.
“So many residents offer their services and volunteer their time to help the recreation department throughout the year,” Bernardo said in a Feb. 23 release announcing the award. “There’s not much we can do to show how much we appreciate the help except to publicly recognize these individual volunteers.”
During the past 11 years, McCabe has always arrived first to the recreation center to help string lights and decorate the exterior of the building for the annual Christmas tree lighting, Bernardo said. Afterward, McCabe would help the Boy Scouts set up their Toys for Tots bins across municipality, he added.
In addition to his help in the rec department, Bernardo noted McCabe’s many years of service with the Clark Volunteer Fire Department, running the Cub Scouts pancake breakfast and Pinewood Derby and assisting with the Memorial Day Parade and Veterans’ Day Ceremony.
“Scott is an asset to the recreation department of Clark,” Bernardo said. “He exemplifies the meaning of hard work, dedication and especially giving up himself and not expecting anything in return.”
Adding to Bernardo’s comments, Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso said he has known McCabe personally for many years and he has helped him countless times.
“Scott is a terrific employee,” Bonaccorso said. “During Hurricane Sandy, he was one of my right arms as we were literally working around the clock in Clark. He has a mindset of someone who does, someone who is giving as a volunteer.”
Councilwoman Angel Albanese also recalled an instance when McCabe put several hours into helping the Clark Public Library.
“He’s really extremely dedicated.” Albanese said.