Senior Volunteers Honored for Service to Cape May County

CAPE MAY – The Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Aging honored the county’s senior volunteers and celebrated the 34th anniversary of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) on Sept. 11. The annual “thank you breakfast” for volunteers was held at the Grand Hotel here.
Freeholder Gerald Thornton and the board presented awards to the Oldest Volunteers, the RSVP volunteers who Contributed the Most Hours and the Volunteer Award for Years of Service, according to a release.
Nicholas Pessolano, 91, of Ocean City received the RSVP Oldest Male Volunteer Award.
Pessolano, born in Sea Isle City on Aug. 2, 1917, served in World War II from 1941–45 as an airplane mechanic for fighter planes. Pessolano earned three Battle Stars while serving with the 2nd Squadron and 5th Army Air Force. After serving his country, he was self employed in the contracting business.

Pessolano has been “a faithful volunteer at the Stainton Senior Center in Ocean City, helping to serve meals each day,” the release stated. When not helping with nutrition duties, he can be found playing cards at the center.
Jennie Troxel, 93, of North Cape May was born in Lafayette, Pa. on March 13, 1915 and moved to Cape May County in 1940.
Troxel received the RSVP Oldest Female Volunteer Award. Troxel, retired from the U.S. Coast Guard Galley, drove a Mac truck during World War II and was an auto mechanic at the Cape May County Airport.
Troxel is a dedicated volunteer at Cape Regional Medical Center. Troxel, a volunteer for nine years, has checked visitors in and out of the hospital, provided information, answered telephones, clerical support and assisted in the Cheerie Corner Gift Shop. Currently, Troxel volunteers in the South Lobby of Cape Regional Medical Center.
Since Troxel has received this award previously, she agreed to share the award with the next oldest female volunteer, Catherine Williams.
Catherine (Kitty) Williams, 92, born March 18, 1916 in Mansfield, Ohio, has lived in Villas for 12 years.
Williams was an active volunteer for the Navy, where she met her first husband. Williams did clerical work at the Pensacola Navy Hospital before locating to Cape May County. Williams attends the Lower Cape Senior Center where she keeps busy with the Happy Healthy Bones exercise class on Mondays.
The RSVP Award for Most Years of Service, Male went to Harry Shrouds with 22 years of service.
Shrouds born in Somers Point, has lived in Ocean View since 1962.
Shrouds volunteers at the Upper Township Senior Center and has been an active wood carver most of his life and now shares his skills with the wood carving group at the Senior Center. Shrouds leads this group once a week. His outgoing personality has kept the class together over the years and the class continues to grow. He has been a participant in our County Art Show for many years, and is responsible for encouraging other wood carvers to enter this event.
The RSVP Award for Years of Service, Female went to Gertrude Jennings of North Wildwood with 22 years of service. Jennings originally from Philadelphia, Pa. taught Physical Education, Health and Library Science in Delaware County, Pa. During that time, she traveled throughout the United States and also Jamaica to promote women’s sports such as basketball, volleyball and hockey with the group Volunteer Organization for Women.
Jennings has been an active volunteer with the S.W.I.M. program for 22 years. The S.W.I.M. program provides water therapy for muscular impaired adults.
John Smith with 7,467 hours received the RSVP Award for Most Hours Volunteered, Male.
Smith, born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa., relocated to Cape May County in 1988. He and his wife of 54 years, Josephine, live in North Wildwood.
Smith is a weekly volunteer at the Glenwood Avenue School in their breakfast program, bringing nutritious meals to students. Smith is also an active member of the Community Advisory Group, which works very closely with the RSVP/Senior Corps. Additionally, Smith helped to decorate the room and assisted guests at this year’s RSVP brunch.
Since Smith has received this award previously, he has agreed to share with the male with the next highest number of hours, Robert Hagenbarth.
Robert (Bob) Hagenbarth with 4,308 hours shares the RSVP Award for Most Life Hours Volunteered, Male. Hagenbarth was born in Vineland, and lives with his wife, Dolly of 42 years, in Villas. Hagenbarth retired from the William J. Donovan Co., a sheet metal company, Local No. 19.
Hagenbarth volunteers at the Lower Cape Senior Center where he helps with the telephones and handles paperwork. Also, Hagenbarth is a bingo caller and helps to count money during the Center’s various special events. Bob actively supports programs that educate and raise funds for research for ALS also known as Lou Gehrig Disease.
Lois DeSoo with 7,372 hours received the RSVP Award for Most Hours Volunteered, Female.
DeSoo was born in Philadelphia, Pa. and relocated to Cape May County in 1997. She has been married to her husband Kenneth, for 57 years. DeSoo volunteers at the Cape Regional Medical Center where she is the Volunteer Supervisor of the hospital gift shop. She volunteers everyday.
Marie Sullivan with 6,277 hours shares the RSVP Award for Most Hours Volunteered, Female.
Sullivan was born in Philadelphia, Pa. and lives in Court House with her husband, Charles of 57 years. Sullivan who retired from Superior Spring in Philadelphia, keeps herself busy directing the craft sessions at the Dennis Township Senior Center and also organizes the luncheon ideas on bingo days at the Center.
“Each year I am amazed to see the number of seniors who volunteer and help to make Cape May County a better place. It is important that we take the time to acknowledge and thank them for their contributions to our community,” stated Thornton.