Porter Honored for Decades of Service

Former Councilman Gerard Porter was honored Wednesday night for his years of service to the township.

Porter represented the 3rd Ward on the council for 20 years and also served on the planning board and as a library trustee.

"I don't know what to say," Porter said. "I had fun."

Porter, flanked by his family and local and state officials in the , sat in a wheelchair and listened as person after person wished him well and thanked him for his service to his constituents. 

"To call him a pillar of society would be a understatement," said Councilwoman Nadine Bello. "He is a rock."

Many of them mentioned Porter's unwavering dedicating to help others both inside and outside of his responsibilities as an elected official. Porter, a Republican, he's never let someone's political affiliation get in the way of helping them.

“When someone calls me for help, I never ask them which political party they belong to,” Porter said in July. “As long as they are a taxpayer and the live in the Third Ward, it doesn’t matter. It is rewarding to help people do things that they can’t do for themselves.”

Former Mayor and state Assemblyman Scott Rumana, who used to campaign with Porter, called him "a great soul who's been an outstanding leader of our community."

Porter helps out at Eva’s Village and serves on the board of directors of Straight and Narrow. Both are in Paterson.

Eva’s is a shelter that provides homeless people and drug addicts a place to stay, food, and medical care. Straight and Narrow is a faith-based organization that provides childcare and vocational and educational services to those who need it.

Porter will be inducted into the New Jersey State League of Municipalities' Hall of Fame.

Porter called his wife Doris "a champion" for sticking by him throughout his public service career.

Porter had some words of advice for Franco Mazzei, his replacement on the council, and the rest of the elected officails in the room.

"The people you represent, they are not just your constituents," Porter said. "Treat them like they're friends."