1988 – 2012
About this point in time a transition of requirements necessary to be a qualified member was in the process of change. Advanced First Aid administered by the National Red Cross was the standard training forming the main requirement. In the early 1970s, CPR was added, and then a Five Point System was used for qualification. Advanced First Aid, CPR, Emergency Childbirth, Defensive Driving and Extrication then became the standard form of certification. In the late 1970s and early 1980s the NJ State Office of Emergency Services set the requirements for Emergency Medical Technicians with a comprehensive course requiring 120 hours of training. This training has steadily increased over the years and is expected to surpass 250 hours in the future. Despite the added certification time, more dedicated members continued to join the corps. With this added training, the emergency medical services provided by the corps to the community continuing to improve.
Ted Clark and his wife Karen became another husband wife team to join the corps in 1991 and 1992 respectively. They both would go on to become life members, and served the corps in many offices. Sharon Acaster joined the corps in 1993. She has served several times as captain, as well as other administrative positions and became a life member.
Yet another husband wife team would be formed when Nicholas and Amy Hanke joined the corps and were later married. Both would become life members in 2004 and 2008 respectively.
However 1994 proved a fortunate year for the corps when a most remarkable group of new members joined. Rick Savino, Cathy (Baum) Okken, Michael Blondin and Daryl D’Amore would go on to strengthen the corps and provide a standard of excellence for the years to come. Rick a lawyer by trade and member of the NJ Search and Rescue, has provided leadership to the corps and has served as CPR instructor for the mandatory yearly certifications. Cathy and Michael served many years as captain and crew chief. However, the commitment made by Daryl has led to her serving as captain for over ten years, as well as serving on most special committees to strengthen the morale and fabric of the corps.
Posting over 15 years of service to the corps, Matthew Baratz recently attained life membership status. Matt has enriched the corps with his many talents especially in the area of new technologies.
The office of chaplain was usually filled by a volunteer member. In recent times, community clergy have volunteered to serve the corps in this capacity. Serving in the post for ten years, Pastor Bruce Bassett of Calvary Lutheran Church has provided guidance the corps in this capacity. He has since left Allendale for a new post and has been replaced by Fr. Michael Allen of Trinity Episcopal Church.
Other current active members have continued a significant contribution to the corps and include Nadine Benoit, Vincent Bottaro, Ellen Hillman, Matthew Hillman, Lauren Morgan, Jack Shea, Sean Toolan, Patrick Donahue, Grace Karvellas and Scott Zieber.
The family tradition also continues with the current participation of the Acaster, Donahue, Hillman, Morgan, Clark, and Toolan families contributing many hours of community service.
Members’ resources are not the only advancements made during this time. The eighth vehicle to be placed in service by the corps was a 1991 Chevrolet pictured left. The ambulance was introduced to the town at the Memorial Day Parade and Celebration.
With the dedication of another new rig in 1995, a new tradition was established for the corps. The new 1995 Ford Road Rescue Ambulance was named in honor of two significant Life Members (James Tallia and John Alsdorf). The Rig is pictured below along with both members honored at the dedication.
John was also honored by the corps in 2008 for fifty years of active service to the corps. The town of Allendale would also recognize John’s accomplishment when Mayor Vince Bara officially renamed the building in his honor.
The tradition of dedicating ambulances for prominent members would continue with the dedication of a 2003 International Harvester Horton in memory of deceased Captain Vera Walters. Pictured below are her husband and other family members at a wet-down celebration held for the event. This rig is still in use; serving the town with the same dedication she gave the corps for many years.
In 2007 another International Harvester Horton was also dedicated in honor of the corps’ first female member, Ethel Tellefsen. Pictured below is Ethel with her husband and other family members on the dedication day, July 21, 2007.
During the events that shocked the world on September 11, 2001, the Allendale Corps provided mutual aid services to the city of New York in their time of need. An ambulance was dispatched that day and for several days following the disaster. The people that responded at that time are shown below and are (l to r) Barbara Keohane, Laura Denoia, Daryl D’Amore, Michael Blondin and Dennis Murphy.
The ambulance took up position at Liberty State Park and Ellis Island to aid in the transportation of the victims to New Jersey Hospitals. Due to his training and skills, Michael Blondin was deployed at ground zero, but it quickly became apparent that the mission would change from search and rescue to recovery in the aftermath of the towers’ collapse. AAC was recognized with a service commendation from the New York City Fire Department for “unselfish and dedicated response”. The corps also provided mutual aid during the first World Trade Center bombing. The services of life members Tracy Dickinson and Denis Murphy were provided to police and firemen over a twelve hour period on February 26, 1993.
Today the corps continues to provide emergency services to Allendale. In 2012 the Borough of Saddle River decided to provide their town with ambulance services from The Valley Hospital, and thus ended their association with the corps after 75 years.
The corps assets include the finest state-of-the-art ambulances and equipment available, but the most important assets are the dedicated people that man these resources and provide the expert medical services to the town we call our home.
