Pasola to Be Honored by Education Foundation

John “Jack” Pasola is the 2012 Hall of Fame Civic Award winner selected by the Point Pleasant Beach Public Education Foundation.

Pasola, a 1962 Point Beach High School graduate who still lives in town, and four other alumni, are being honored at the Crystal Point in Point Pleasant. Cocktails are at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the inductions at 7:30 p.m.

The other alumni being honored are Jennifer Hunziker Kelber (see separate story); Raymond D. Ellis (see separate story); John Christopher Amelchenko and Peter Joseph Ryan. Patch will post separate stories on Amelchenko and Ryan.

The following narrative about Pasola was submitted by the Foundation.

"Jack Pasola is no stranger to the word 'service' and is a hardworking man who cares deeply about those around him.

"Jack is often described by those that know him well as a man of character with a deep commitment to bettering his local community. Jack has served the Point Pleasant Beach Community for several decades and this year the Foundation honors his dedication by recognizing Jack as the 2012 Hall of Fame Civic Award winner.

"Starting with the 1970’s, Jack served as a volunteer on many Point Pleasant Beach Committees. The list includes the local Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment, and the Water Rate Committee. In addition he served as President of the White Lawn Cemetery Association and as President of the local Republican Club.

"In November of 1982, Jack was elected to the Point Pleasant Beach Council, marking the start of his 20-year tenure in local politics. During his tenure, Jack served as Councilman, Council President, and in 2000 was elected Mayor.

"As a councilman, Jack served as chairman of every council committee including the Finance Committee, Police Committee, Public Works Committee, Code Enforcement Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee and Fire/First Aid Committee.

"As Mayor, Jack worked closely with the Historic Society helping to create the Historic Preservation Commission. During his term Mayor Pasola, always an advocate for education worked closely with then Superintendent of Schools, Dr. F. Thomas Crawley, helping to preserve and maintain a strong school system in Point Pleasant Beach.

"Jack’s popularity among his constituents was evident, as he never lost a local election, winning seven consecutive times.

"Jack is most proud of having sponsored the historic ordinance that authorized the 25-year agreement for the purchase of 100 percent of Point Pleasant Beach’s potable water from the Brick Township Municipal Utilities.

"In addition he sponsored and introduced the ordinance to control group rentals, which is commonly known as the ‘Animal House’ ordinance.

"He worked hard to help keep Point Pleasant Beach a family oriented town introducing building ordinances to control the height and integrity of new construction in town and worked closely, with then Police Chief Dan DePolo, to control quality of life issues in the beachfront area. He helped to initiate the Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan more widely know as the S.N.A.P Program.

"Jack always made himself available to meet with the residents of the town and was always willing to help to try and rectify any problems that the residents experienced in hopes of making his town a comfortable place to live and raise a family.

"Under Jack’s leadership, New Jersey Monthly recognized Point Pleasant Beach as one of the best places to live in New Jersey. Jack was also recognized and honored by the New Jersey Senate and Assembly for his many years of dedicated service to the residents of Point Pleasant Beach.

"In addition to Jack’s involvement with local politics, he spent numerous hours coaching and managing many local recreation sports. He helped coach soccer, basketball and baseball in Point Pleasant Beach during the 1970s and 1980s.

"Many of his favorite days were spent on the Little League field managing the Point Pleasant Beach Twins. Jack even found the time to help maintain the fields keeping them in great shape for the children. As a councilman and mayor, he helped the Little League to secure monies for many field improvements.

"In 2011 Jack came out of retirement and helped coach his grandson Connor’s Little League team on the very fields he helped to improve several years prior. Jack is extremely proud to be a 2008 Little League Hall of Fame Inductee.

"In addition to serving the children, Jack also has served as Deacon and Usher in the Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church. He, still today, remains active in the community helping his wife Sandy beautify Point Pleasant Beach, donating his time to the Point Pleasant Beach Beautification Committee.

"Jack, a 1962 graduate of Point Pleasant Beach High School, participated in Gym Club, on Homecoming Committee and was a four-year member of the basketball team when attending the Beach. His love for basketball earned him varsity letters junior and senior year and as a senior he wasnamed the captain of the team.

"Jack played for Coach Fred Adams, who was known to be one of the best coaches in the Shore area at the time. Coach Adams was the type of coach who demanded discipline, dedication and hard work all major attributes that Jack possesses. To this day, Jack still holds the highest points scored in the Point Pleasant Beach Summer Park Basketball League holding a record 52 points!

"Jack and his best friend Ron Krayl will, on occasion, still pick up the basketball bringing back many fond high school memories.

"Upon graduation from Point Pleasant Beach High School, Jack followed in his father’s footsteps attending the Atlas Barber School in New York City. While there he was nominated and chosen to represent the Atlas School in a national haircutting contest in NY.

"Jack has been proprietor of Pasola’s Barber Shop in Point Pleasant for nearly 50 years. In his younger days he was known for working long hours making himself available for his customers and even today, although he has shortened the work day, people know his shop as the only barber shop to open at 5:00AM – long before the sun comes up.

"Jack, now semi-retired, still enjoys working and appreciates the camaraderie at the Barber Shop. Jack devotes his time to family. If he is not attending one of his grandchildren’s many sporting events, you can find him enjoying his time on the golf course.

"The Pasolas are a family of Garnet Gulls! Besides Jack, Sandy and their three children, Cindy, John and Jenny, all Beach graduates, Jack and Sandy have six grandchildren currently enrolled in the Beach school system: Connor- grade 7, Kylee- grade 6, Jack- grade 4, Matthew and Luke- grade 2 and Ryan in Kindergarten.

"Jack is the first to admit that he would not have been able to achieve what he has without the help of his wife of 47 years, Sandy, who was his high school sweetheart and a graduate of the class of 1964.

"The Foundation wishes to thank Mr. Jack Pasola for his many years of positive service to the community and welcomes him into the Hall of Fame."