Jim and Joanne Paulson Are Mattia Winners
• Couple Honored for Decades of Service With Ambulance Squad
Apr 14, 2010 – James and Joanne Paulson, Nutley's consummate and best known community volunteers, have been on the job with the Emergency and Rescue Squad continuously for nearly a half-century. He is the president of the Nutley Squad, she is the vice president, and both have been named as the 2010 recipients of the Dr. Virginius D. Mattia Public Service Award.
Announcement of their selection by a secret ballot vote was announced Tuesday by the Rev. Jill Fenske, secretary of the 15-member awards committee.
Although James and Joanne long have been active in several Nutley organizations, their record of commitment to the Nutley Rescue Squad is unparalleled. Over the years they've done about everything – from handling the squad's laundry and cleaning the rigs, to filling in on overnight shifts.
"The squad handles 12 to 14 calls a day and sometime as many as 20. That's about 3,000 emergencies a year," Jim says.
Now retired from Roche where he was the director of information technology, Jim says the late Dr. Mattia took an interest in the Nutley volunteer activities. The award he is receiving was named after Dr. Mattia who championed Roche employees to become involved in community work in their respective home towns.
"Even on short rides in the elevator at Roche or during relaxed meetings at the nearby Nicols Park, Dr. Mattia always kept up to date on the community issues in Nutley – whether it was softball or the rescue squad," Jim recalls.
Mrs. Paulson's volunteer work includes overseeing the squad's fund drives and she basically serves as the personnel director. Joanne also is a volunteer trustee for the Parkside Apartments for senior citizens in Nutley. She is a former president of the Nutley Junior Woman's Club and is currently a trustee of St. Mary's Church and a member of the parish finance committee. Mrs. Paulson is also a former teacher in the CDD program.
Mr. Paulson's community work outside of the squad includes serving as chairman of the Pastoral Council at St. Mary's where he is also bingo chairman and leads the CCD program. Jim is a former vice president of the Nutley Jaycees, a volunteer coach with the town's Midget Football League and member of the Elks and Knights of Columbus.
Joanne and Jim Paulson will be honored Thursday, May 6, at the 38th annual Dr. Virginius D. Mattia Awards dinners at Nanina's in the Park. The evening opens with a 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour. Tickets at $65 can be secured by calling Vickie O'Halloran at 973-284-4959.
