‘Humbled and honored’

Former Mayor Robert Sherr and his wife Amelia, a longtime Board of Health member, are the fifth and sixth honorees to receive Pillars of Middlesex recognition.

The Sherrs were honored by Mayor Jack Mikolajczyk and the Borough Council at the governing body’s Tuesday, Sept. 24 meeting. The mayor and Council President Michael Conahan presented them with proclamations honoring their work. The Pillars of Middlesex awards were begun earlier this year to recognize community volunteers who have made noteworthy contributions to the municipality.

“It’s truly great to be honored in such a way by our community,” said Robert Sherr “All the years volunteering, it’s a way that we invested in trying to make the community better.”

“it seems less and less people come forward to step into those roles,” he said of the various boards and committees he’s served on. “It’s something that’s really necessary for the town to operate properly.” 

Sherr said he hopes there will be a renewed interest in volunteering, particularly in the community’s younger members. “It’s easy to sit back and say things should be done a certain way or to offer criticisms,” he said. “It’s harder to get involved and really try to make a difference in our community.” 

“I’m humbled and honored to receive the recognition from the mayor and everyone on the council,” Amelia Sherr said. “It’s greatly appreciated.”

Both Robert and Amelia Sherr thanked members of the various boards and committees they’ve served with through the years.

Robert Sherr, a lifelong resident of Middlesex Borough, graduated from Middlesex High School in 1969. He served on the Borough Council  from January 1978 to December 1980. In 1979, he ran as a Republican candidate for a 17th Legislative District State Assembly seat.

Sherr was elected mayor in November 2009, was sworn in the day after the general election, and served until year-end 2011.

Appointed to the Planning Board in 2009, Sherr served as its vice chairman in 2010. He was later vice chair of the Joint Land Use Board from 2020 to 2022 and its chairman from September 2022 through March 2024.

Sherr also volunteered on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and served as a Board of Health member from September 2022 through March 2024. He is currently a Board of Health alternate. Sherr received the Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1986, 2005 and 2013.

Amelia Sherr, also a lifelong borough resident, is a 1970 Middlesex High School graduate.

She served on the Board of Health for more than 22 years, during that time holding offices such as treasurer, vice president and president.

Amelia Sherr represented Middlesex on the Middlebrook Regional Health Commission from 1983-1987 and 2002-2010. She was an integral part of negotiations for a public health contract with the Middlesex County Health Department, which saved the borough about $500,000 across 14 years.

She served on the Board of Education for several months earlier this year. Like her husband, she received the Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1986, 2005 and 2013. 

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