‘A high calling’

In John Fuhrmann’s opinion, public service is a high calling and a noble pursuit.

Middlesex Borough officials, family and friends of the former mayor and his wife, Sheila, showed they agreed with that sentiment. The Fuhrmanns were honored as the first “Pillars of Middlesex” in front of a crowded courtroom at the Ronald S. Dobies municipal building on Tuesday, April 23.

John Fuhrmann served as mayor for nine months in 2009 after the position was vacated through the resignation of Gerald D’Angelo. Fuhrmann was a councilman for nine years, twice serving as council president.

His record of community involvement stretches back to the 1960s when he was a member of the Middlesex Jaycees, serving as president in 1968-69. He was a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment for 12 years, serving as chairman several times. Fuhrmann also served three years on the Planning Board.

Fuhrmann chaired the committee that secured a $7 million grant to construct the Watchung Terrace senior housing complex, plus $300,000 annually to subsidize rents for very low-income residents.

Like her husband, Sheila Fuhrmann’s longest lasting legacy is likely her work on behalf of local seniors. She was formerly the borough’s director of senior services. She is a former Board of Education member, serving six years as its vice president. Like her husband, Sheila Furhmann was a Zoning Board of Adjustment member, serving for nine years.

Sheila Fuhrmann served on the Planning Board for seven years and the Board of Health for six years. She was a founding member of the Blue Jay Booster Club, circa 1976.

Sheila Fuhrmann recalled that the entryway to community service for herself and her husband – as young parents – was through their children. Their kids’ entry into local schools led to relationships being formed with other parents, sometimes resulting in invitations to join the PTA and other groups.

“We have found a great joy in volunteering,” Sheila Fuhrmann said.

She joked that by working without pay as a volunteer, “It’s really hard to get fired.”

Sheila Furhmann urged others to volunteer in their community. “You don’t have to be knowledgable about a lot of stuff,” she said. “You can learn.”

Council President Michael Conahan read the respective proclamations issued in honor of the Fuhrmanns while Mayor Jack Mikolajczyk looked on. 

Mikolajczyk said the Pillars of Middlesex program was started to thank residents who have volunteered for a long period – sometimes as much as 30 or 40 years.

“Sometimes they leave, not so much as a thank-you, not so much as a good-bye – they’re just gone,” the mayor noted.

The word “pillars” in the award title is to suggest that honorees “are part of the foundation of what makes Middlesex the great town that it is,” said Mikolajczyk. The intent, going forward, is to give the recognition at the Borough Council’s second meeting of each month.

The Fuhrmanns, according to Mikolajczyk, were logical choices as the first recipients.

“We really didn’t have to go too far to think about, who are the first two recipients of the Pillars of Middlesex award,” Mikolajczyk said. 

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