NJADB Honors Retired Board Member Virginia Koehne in Board Room Dedication Ceremony

The New Jersey Association of the Deaf-Blind, Inc. hosted a small luncheon Saturday, October 29, during which the NJADB Board of Trustees announced that the Board Conference Room in the agency’s main office would be named in honor of Virginia Koehne.

Ms. Koehne not only served on the Board of Trustees for more than 30 years, but she was also one of the agency’s founding members.

“Everyone spends time in the main agency conference room at least once during their career here at NJADB, whether it be for agency orientation, training or a meeting,” said Vicky Calabro, the president of NJADB.  “So I look at that room as the heart of the organization, which is what Ginny Koehne embodies through her service, dedication and contributions.”

Ms. Koehne and her husband Tom adopted their son Peter as a young child.  Peter was born deaf-blind and developmentally disabled.  The Koehnes were steadfast in their commitment to ensuring he and other people like him had opportunities to be included in the life of the community despite a world that was not designed to accommodate them.

A tireless advocate for more than 40 years, Ms. Koehne devoted countless hours of her time speaking to government leaders about the need for specialized support for people with deaf-blindness.  She raised thousands of dollars to support agency initiatives, and, along with her co-founders, created the blueprint for the agency that NJADB is today. 

“She was always there for us when we needed fundraising or support,” Calabro said.  “She never hesitated to ask friends or family to support NJADB’s mission.  Though not one to seek the spotlight she went so far as to agree to be in one of our agency videos by letting us interview her and her family.”

Caring, compassionate, quality services are the legacy that Ms. Koehne leaves behind and the hallmark of NJADB’s vision moving forward

There will be a proclamation hung in the conference room outlining her significant achievements.  Ginny was presented with a framed copy of the proclamation. 

Her family, agency staff and board members attended the luncheon.

Flemington Boy Scout Builds Accessible Garden Beds for People with Disabilities in Central NJ

Frank Mondella, 17, of Troop 194 recently completed his project that will earn him the rank of Eagle Scout and benefit the lives of more than 30 adults who are deaf-blind and developmentally disabled.

With the assistance of six fellow Boy Scouts and friends, Frank led the team in building six handicap-accessible gardening beds to be placed at three of the New Jersey Association of the Deaf-Blind, Inc.’s (NJADB) group homes, which provide 24 hour support for people with developmental disabilities and sensory impairments. 

“Gardening can be very therapeutic for our clients since it is both a tactile and sensory experience,” said Jennifer Rector, the Executive Director of NJADB.  “We hope that they will also benefit from eventually being able to eat what they grow and share it with neighbors, friends and family.”

Frank assembled the gardens onsite, working with volunteers and residents at each location, and prepared the beds for planting in the upcoming spring season.  The entire project took more than 195 hours of work to complete.

“This was a fun project that I know will make a difference to the people who live in the group homes,” Mondella said. 

He also said that he hopes to return to the group homes in the spring to assist with the planting of vegetables, flowers and herbs in the new beds. 

Supplies for the project were donated by Home Depot in Flemington and Bound Brook, Shop Rite of Flemington and Garden Gate, also located in Flemington.  Other supplies were purchased through NJADB funds granted by the Willis Foundation. 

Frank has been a Scout with Troop 194 since 2000 and is currently a senior at Hunterdon Central Regional High School.  He is the son of Alfred and Theresa Mondella of Flemington.