Monmouth County Commissioner Burry
Monmouth County Commissioner Lillian G. Burry gave a festive dinner in celebration of her many years of dedication and service to Monmouth County and was deluged with love, congratulations and dozens of stories of how she has helped people, organizations, education, and history, all with a genuine love for Monmouth County.
Every One But …
None of the other county commissioners Director Tom Arnone, Deputy Director Nick DiRocco, Susan Kiley, Ross Licitra, accepted invitations to attend, though all asked to be excused because of prior meetings or other commitments.
Service
Commissioner Burry has served on the board for more than 15 years, including three as freeholder director. Prior to that, during more than a half century of service, she was on the borough council in Matawan and Mayor and council member in Colts Neck.
The event, with more than 100 in attendance, was at Eagle Oaks Country Club in Farmingdale.
Every Level of Government
Former Monmouth County Sheriff and former New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno led a host of political leaders from every level of government in recounting how Commissioner Burry helped her and so many others through the years, noting how she regarded the commissioner as a mentor and leader who gave her both inspiration and knowledge. Current Monmouth County Sheriff Shawn Golden was not present at the event.
Former State Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso reiterated Guadagno’s praise and told more instances of her own when Mrs. Burry was her inspiration. DiMaso served on the Board of Freeholders with the commissioner before she served in Trenton as a state legislator.
Assemblywomen Kim Eulner and Marily Piperno were both at the event, and State Senator Vin Gopal joined Republican State Senator Declan O’Scanlon and other senators in introducing a special resolution in the Legislature to honor Burry’s tenure and half century of service.
Monmouth County Administrator Gerry O’Connor was also in attendance to honor the commissioner; County Clerk Christine Hanlon was not able to attend.
Former Freeholder Pat Impreveduto congratulated the commissioner and was present for the event along with Colts Neck Mayor Sue Fitzpatrick, and councilmembers Michael Viola, J P Bartolomeo and Tara Torchia Buss, Monmouth County Counsel Michael Fitzgerald and County Engineer Joe Ettore as well as Deputy County Administrator Chris Marion and Public Works John Tobia. Also attending were County Surrogate Maureen Raisch and County Surrogate Maureen Rausch showing their appreciation for all the commissioner’s volunteerism and activities.
Brookdale President Dr. David Stout spoke of her dedication to education and the higher education offered at Brookdale, and Congressman Chris Smith aides Jo Schloeder and Mary Noonan brought the congratulations and best wishes of the Congressman who was in the nation’s Capital.
Jim Giannell, who has served as Burry’s campaign manager in numerous elections over the years, served as master of ceremonies as guests throughout the room raised their hands to add their own platitudes to all that were showered on the smiling commissioner.
There were numerous other guests, many from organizations that Commissioner Burry has aided or been a member, including the National Park Service, with retiring Parks Superintendent Peter McCarthy knowing Mrs. Burry’s hard work not only for the Fort Hancock 21st century Advisory Committee but also in leading the movement to have two buildings restored historically for use by the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) NJROTC cadets. One of the buildings has been completed and is in use. The larger building, designed to be an open drill space, classrooms and bathrooms, is now scheduled to be completed by June 2025.
From Around the Country
Other organizations and causes represented were the Monmouth Conservation Foundation, Soldier On, the 4H and Agricultural board, FMERA at Fort Monmouth, the Maser Gardeners, the Monmouth County Park Service, as well as the current chairman and several members of the Colts Neck Historical Preservation Committee, where Mrs. Burry was chairman and founder.
The commissioner’s longtime friend, Christine Saavedra, flew in for the celebration from California, explaining it was an event honoring a woman she highly respects, and she could not have missed it.
Continuing to shower more praises and admiration for their boss were Teri Kneler, Commissioner Burry’s aide at her Freehold office and Michele Battista,, her assistant at the Colts Nek Realty office the commissioner also operates and maintains.
Family
The Commissioner was also surrounded by three generations of her own family, her sister Alba DiBell and her husband, Pat, her daughter Lenore Manicoto and her husband Bob Burns, and her granddaughter, Stephanie Manicoto and James Concepcion.
The surprise and highlight of the evening was when Donald Burry, the Commissioner’s husband of more than 70 years, spoke in praise and awe of his wife’s involvement with everyone who ever sought her help. Burry, a retired Captain in the Coast Guard, is a constant companion for his wife at all her events, but has never been known to address her attributes in public, nor enter into any public discussion.
At the celebration dinner, however, he spoke of her work with Congressman Christ Smith and the impact she has had on various programs and assistance for active duty and retired members of the military. He also received thunderous applause for his words as well as dedication and patience with his wife’s tireless hours helping others. Burry said he did it all not only because he loves her but admires her drive, dedication and enthusiasm for making things and situations better than when she finds them.
Commissioner Burry chose not seek election to another term on the County Board of Commissioners, and will step down at the annual reorganization of the board in January.
