BURLEIGH — Patricia Anne Salvatore, champion preservationist as executive director of Historic Cold Spring Village, a living recreation of an 18th Century farm, was lauded by her peers Nov.19 at the 2008 Alice Stokes Paul Award Dinner sponsored by the Cape May County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women.
Prominent women from throughout the county met at Wildwood Golf and Country Club to applaud Salvatore’s contributions to preserving history and heritage and promoting a better quality of life for county women.
Salvatore has received state and national recognition, but she said this award is particularly meaningful to her because it is praise from people who know her best.
“Those here tonight are my friends, those who know me well and have seen my ups and downs,” she said during her award acceptance speech.
Kathleen Bresan, advisory commission chair, said Salvatore has long-deserved the award.
“Annie is the epitome of the Alice Stokes Paul Award,” said Marilyn Golden, clinical director of Volunteers In Medicine, a non-profit providing health care to people without medical insurance.
“The award criteria describes Patricia with her dedication to service and education,” said Veronica Town, chair of the county Chamber of Commerce.
Alice Stokes Paul, born to a wealthy family in Paulsboro in 1885, gave up her comforts to fight for women’s suffrage. She was arrested three times and tortured via force-feeding when she and her contemporaries fasted in protest for equal rights for women. Town noted, among many similarities including tenacity and devotion, that Salvatore and Paul also have the same initials.
Salvatore, a practicing nurse and educator, was born the oldest of three daughters in Morristown. She has lived in Cape May County with her husband, Joseph Salvatore, and their two daughters for 40 years.
Sen. Jeff Van-Drew said Salvatore’s successful preservation of culture, art and history are important during a time of fiscal challenge.
The Status of Women Advisory Commission, created by the Board of Chosen Freeholders and headquartered in Crest Haven, meets monthly to discuss concerns, network with local organizations to create an environments that promotes the status of county women and girls. The commission sponsors events and seminars, like the Paul Alice Stokes Award Dinner, to encourage women to break the proverbial glass ceiling.
“I am deeply grateful and I will remember tonight for a long time,” Salvatore said.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com
