The Panel Members were given citations from the City of Perth Amboy *Photos by Katherine Massopust
Perth Amboy Free Public Library 3/26/22
By: Katherine Massopust
PERTH AMBOY – The Perth Amboy Free Public Library Board of Trustees held a Woman’s History Month Panel at the library. Featured on the panel were six successful women, each with their own story who shared their experiences with the community.
Board of Trustees Secretary Brenda Delgadillo introduced each panel member.
Municipal Judge Michelle Roman: I used to come home from school and watch “The People’s Court,” and “LA Law,” when I was 8 years old. I grew up in a single parent household in public housing – The Stockton Building and Delaney Homes. I wanted to be an attorney and I realized in order to do so, you had to have an education. I graduated 9th in my class in 1991. I was the first person in my family to go to college. I attended Douglas College and was in the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. I went to Rutgers Law School in Newark and graduated in 1998. I loved being an attorney. I do family law and divorces. I had the honor of being appointed a Municipal Court Judge in 2017. I was the City Public Defender for 14 years. I volunteer for the Charter School. I knew I wanted to become an attorney since 8th Grade. I worked for Central Jersey Internal Services in New Brunswick. I learned family law. I helped people who do not have any resources. It gives you a sense of purpose. As a Municipal Court Judge, I feel that you must judge a person with fairness and justice. I love being a Municipal Court Judge. The diversity in the Judiciary Profession is important. In 1998 I was the only Latina Attorney. Often, I was confused as an interpreter. Your job is to advocate for your client as a woman and an attorney. Things are changing slowly. Perth Amboy has so much to give to the community.
Sgt. Jessica DeJesus PAPD: I am Dominican American. My parents came in 1972 from the Dominican Republic. I was born in 1982. In 1985 my parents bought there first home on State Street where they raised me, my brother, and sister there. Our basis, our foundation was there. I went to Ukrainian Assumption Catholic School and then went to Perth Amboy High School. I went to Rutgers to study the criminal justice system and sociology with hopes to be a Federal Agent. I took a course with my sister, Wanda and it was amazing. I prefer my boots on the ground. In 2004 I took the Civil Test and in 2005 joined the Perth Amboy Police Department. This is the best career. I wouldn’t change it for the world. In 2009 I left the PAPD for a while and went to Miami for 6-7 months. It was awesome. I came back to the PAPD. I did 2 years on patrol, but most of the time I spent in the Detective Bureau. During last year, I was promoted to Sergeant. Initially I was asked what I really want to do. Years later, everyone is proud I became a Perth Amboy Police Officer. It is a male dominated field. In 2007 I rode in the Police Unity Tour (A bicycle tour from New York to Washington D.C.). One Lieutenant bet a case of beer I would not make it. He had to eat that beer. One time on a job myself and another female officer had issues when a male officer wouldn’t deal with me. We are all very important. We can do the job just the same. I have 2 children. One officer said, “She’s not the same after having children.” That is not true. Always maintain that positivity. Always make sure we leave a little piece of yourself along the way.
Firefighter Ariele Bonilla PAFD: I was born and raised in Perth Amboy. After high school, I decided I was not a college person, so I focused on the military. At age 18 I dived in headfirst. My parents were not too happy. My grandfather was in the Vietnam War, the only person in my family that was ever in the military. I realized I was a shy person. I made it there from 2011-2015. In the military, you eat or get eaten. I was promoted to 3rd Class Petty Officer in charge of people at age 19. The military helped me come out of my shell. I did three deployments overseas. I spent more time on sea than on land. It is a male dominated field and I was one of two females on the job. I had to learn to be as good as the guys. In the military, you have to reapply for an appointment. You have 8 times to get reappointed to the same position. I reapplied 4 times and was rejected. My rank was maxed out – so you would have to go back to school and go where the Navy puts you. So, I came back home and took the civil service test to be a firefighter in the Perth Amboy Fire Department. I left taking the test thinking I didn’t do well when my brother called and told me I had gotten the #1 spot. I was in shock. I would go through the process of getting into another male dominated job. Another obstacle and nerve racking. My parents are proud of me. I just took the captain’s test.
Councilwoman Milady Tejeda: This reminds me of Saturday Morning Classes. I really miss that time. A lot of people said,”You were a mother and father for those kids.” Neither one can do the job of the other one. You can do part of it, but those kids need that parental father figure in their life like they need the mother figure. I know we have it hard. We have to work harder. What in the world in 1962 made my parents feel they needed to migrate to the United States? In 1962 they picked up and left the Dominican Republic looking for the United State for a better life. The boys stayed with the paternal grandparents and the girls stayed with the maternal grandparents. At that time, it was something that they had to deal with. My grandparents sent the oldest girl and the oldest boy to the university because that is what they could afford. You sit as a child wondering. Now, as an adult you can’t judge them, but you have to be in that same situation to understand. My parents came here, and I stayed behind. At 15 years old, I came to the United States with a desire that I only would stay for 2 years – and that was it. I came to Perth Amboy High School. Most students there were mainly Puerto Rican. I was a Junior at that time not knowing the language. You go to high school and get used to it. I was a Straight A Student. I felt lost. I have to appreciate everyone that was around me. Obi Gonzalez was my Guidance Counselor. She said I need to go to college. My dream was to become a pediatrician. I saw the reality – how will my parents pay for medical school? So I went for something in that direction. I went for Medical Lab Technician. I did an internship at Rahway Hospital. I already made my fusion of the Dominican Republic and the United States – no more thinking and looking back. I got to love this country and love my Dominican Heritage. By that time, I am very settled. I finished Middlesex County College, I changed the way I was thinking. I got a job at Rahway Hospital, and from there I paid for my education at Kean University. I got married, had two kids, then unfortunately I got divorced. My kids did not have to struggle like I did. They support themselves and they have jobs. During the time they were in school, there were fights going on in the schools. A group of parents got together – over 400 people in my church. I was there for my kids. No one wanted to go up and speak so guess who they threw me under the bus – they forced me to go up and speak. I did not know how much an impact that I had. I was appointed to the Board of Education when Mr. Gumbs retired from the Board. I became so involved with the Board of Education. A lot needed to be done. We had a united Board. We had obstacles – we hired the wrong person. We dealt with that the way that we could. From then on, we found another person and worked with the community – the place I will never leave. Later on, I was asked to run for City Council, and I won. To me, it’s the experience of always working for the community.
Special Education Teacher Loris Welch: I teach English at Perth Amboy High School. As a teacher, I feel as I am that part of my lesson, my students ask me where do I start? I say start anywhere. I came from Jamaica in 1982 straight to Perth Amboy. I had a friend from high school who lived in Perth Amboy who was a social worker. I came one summer, and I didn’t want to come back to Jamaica. I worked to get my citizenship, which I ultimately did 7 years after I came My first job was with the Board of Education. I got a job as a secretary. I had no idea I wanted to have a career in teaching, but it is the most fulfilling experience I ever had. I got an apartment with no furniture for more than a year. Someone gave me a bed, but I never used it. My kids went to Shull School. My house was packed with kids every day. When my kids got to the high school, They played sports including football. My neighbor gave me a Chevy Malibu Classic, this huge car so I would take all the kids home. Things continued to be tight so I moved to Delaney Homes for 17 years. I was at my job at the Board of Education when Gloria Harzold, the Head of Curriculum said you need to be a teacher. I said I don’t have a high school diploma. She kept saying, you need to go to school to be a teacher. One day, she walked me over to the adult school and said I need to take the GED exam. I didn’t want to take the GED because I was afraid of failure. Gloria was there and pushed me to go, so I went. I took off two days from work. All the kids that were taking the test left. I was close to 40 years old. I passed the GED and immediately applied and was accepted to Kean University. It took me 8 years to get my bachelors. I wanted to be a special education teacher. I wanted to teach the hardest, most difficult kids to teach at the high school. They offered me a job in Linden High School, but I wanted a job in my hometown, son I came back to my secretary job in the Board of Education in May after graduation. A special education teacher either retired or resigned. I applied and got the job – my dream job. I at no point felt that this job was not for me to this day. I wanted to give a little bit more to the community. The motivation is to give back are where you got your lessons from. I went to teach at the adult school, and I started to teach high school to kids that didn’t have their diplomas. I love to hear their stories. I had the distinct honor to channel people to do what they want. This is Amboy. This is your town. I wanted to get kids to feel like they are part of the community. I found a community outreach program to give community awareness. I feel complete without an urge to go back to Jamaica. Wen I got my citizenship, the judge thanked us for being so brave. Don’t forget where you came from. I really don’t miss Jamaica. We all do the same things in all countries. Your job is everywhere you do everything. My dream is to see more involvement – more community spirit. It matter – a little like the libraries in the parks. We are all one and have the same dream – the same inspiration.
Woman’s Club Art & History Director and Art Teacher Marcella Massopust: I am a lifelong resident of Perth Amboy. I graduated from New York University and Parsons School of Design. I taught art for 44 years in the Perth Amboy School System. My journey began with my grandmother sitting at the kitchen table. She asked me to read a letter to her. I was 7 years old. “Baba, why did you ask me to read this?” I asked her. She answered, “I can’t read.” I was shocked. “There was no school in my village in Ukraine,” she stated, “I can write my name.” She was proud of that. I learned how important it is to learn to read. Once I wrote to my uncle in France where he was stationed during WWII. It was Christmas and I was excited by all the Christmas presents I received. He wrote back, “The children of France have nothing. Everything is destroyed. You shouldn’t just think of yourself.” You learn from your family. My grandparents were immigrants. My grandmother wanted to become a citizen. Her two sons served in WWII and third son served in Germany post war, so the judge let her become a citizen. I started in No. 5 School, then Shull School, and then I went on to Perth Amboy High School where I was a good student and became a member of the National Honor Society. I was a member of 3 clubs: the Art Club, President of the Junior Red Cross, and the Junior Hospital Guild where I did volunteer work for the Hospital. “What you are to be, you are now becoming,” said my guidance counselor. I advised the Church Sodality in Ukrainian Assumption Church where I am a member. I wanted either an art career or to be a teacher. I worked in New York for a publishing company and I decided I wanted to leave, so I could become a teacher. I met my husband, Tony (I knew him from high school) on my way to class. I was waiting in front of the hospital for a bus to go to New Brunswick to go to Rutgers for education courses where he was also going. He gave me a ride and we started to go out. I started teaching in Shull School, then (after having two children) I went to teach in the high school. I loved it from the beginning. My students painted murals in the hospital every Christmas and the mural for the Veterans in the City Hall Council Chambers. I was President of the Ernest Hansen Auxiliary for 12 years. I continue my work with the Woman’s Club. I will now talk a little about the Woman’s Club. It was founded in 1910 with the support of the Temperance Movement. There was a lot of domestic abuse (due to alcohol abuse). In 1916 during WWI, the Woman’s Club sent bandages to soldiers and made them sweaters. During WWII, they acted as hostesses at the USO Canteen. They purchased an air ambulance which was called, “Perth Amboy Woman’s Club”. They promoted awareness for the blind with Helen Keller and her Teacher, Anne Sullivan who appeared at Perth Amboy High School. They began a school milk program for children (before the government did). They saved the Proprietary House and saved the Perth Amboy City Seal. I was interested because the Woman’s Club ran competitions and gave out scholarships to Perth Amboy students. My husband’s mother belonged to the Woman’s Club and had an Art Scholarship for children. I’ve been a member for over 55 years. The Woman’s Club continues to support the Perth Amboy Free Public Library. They helped restore the Statue of Liberty and helped out the Animal Shelter. They donated food for the hospital workers during the pandemic. Recently, the Woman’s Club donated money for the people of Ukraine. I retired from teaching in the High School, but I still continue my volunteer work with the Woman’s Club and the hospital until I am unable to do so.
There was a brief intermission, and two questions were asked of the panel when the program resumed.
Question #1) To Judge Michelle Roman: How do you navigate the male dominated world of law?
Judge Michelle Roman: You have to be assertive. You can’t let that hold you down and interfere with your goals. You have to believe in yourself. Daily affirmations help.
Question #2) I have autism along with other disabilities. What are your most significant challenges?
Loris Welch: As a teacher of special education, the challenge for me is going to school, I had certain speech. One professor in college accused me of plagiarism because I would use certain words. She stated that’s she had students from other countries, and they didn’t use words like this. I think her expectations of me were so low. Often the smartest kids need support.
A woman in the audience spoke up, “I work at Verizon. We all have different challenges. One of our employees is a quadriplegic. It is difficult for him to do what he does. He can think and has so many great qualities. Focus on our strengths.”
The Library Board of Trustees thanked the panel and everyone who attended the event. Each panelist was also presented with flowers from the Library Board, and a citation from Mayor Caba, which was given out by the Mayor’s Aid, Miguel Arocho.
