Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Shin Angulo recognized the late Gaye Pino during the Dec. 12 council meeting for her more than two decades of service in various township roles.
Over 26 years, Pino was a chair on the zoning board, a member of the Camden County Open Space Advisory and Cherry Hill Arts boards and the Senior Services Program Coordinator.
Shin Angulo referred to Pino – who died Dec. 1 – as “a pillar in our community.”
“Gaye Pino (was) a longstanding resident who impacted so many lives, guiding us and advocating for our seniors,” the mayor noted. “We will sincerely miss Gaye, and our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the Pino family.”
During her time as a representative for senior programs, Pino also participated in grant writing, developed entertainment programs and health initiatives and worked with local businesses to provide discounts for the township’s elderly.
Pino was recognized for her work with a number of awards, including the county Martin Luther King Freedom Medal for Volunteerism, the Cherry Hill Mayor’s Commendation and the Joyce Alexander Walker Community Service Award. She was also among New Jersey’s 50 Best Women in Business.
Other township council members acknowledged Pino’s loss during their meeting comments.
“She was a giant in our town,” said Councilman William Carter. “It’s good when people do things for intrinsic value. Nothing came out of it except for her love for helping the people in our town, and when more of us do that, it’ll be a better place to live.”
Council President David Fleisher recalled meeting Pino in the mid-’90s and his great relationship with her in the township and in her advocacy in the Wexford neighborhood.
“Gaye gave her heart and soul into Cherry Hill,” he said following the meeting. “She was passionate and she cared about the town and its residents. Whether zoning, programs for seniors, or the arts, she gave it her all.
“She was a relentless advocate for our seniors and the arts in Cherry Hill,” he added. “She will very much be missed, and I know we will find ways in the future to honor her memory.”
To plant a tree in Pino’s memory, visit https://legcy.co/3iXWGHT.
In other news:
- Council reappointed six Class 1 Special Law-Enforcement officers, Kevin Huang, Jose Perez-Sanchez, Scott Klenk Jr., Aidacelys Bello-Reyes, Morgan Diugnan and Charles Bluhm, and four Class II Special Law Enforcement officers, Theodore Winsley, Ryan Waltimyer, Brian Robinson and Jose Rivera.
- Council also named two new Class II Special Law Enforcement officers, Jacqueline Nguyen and Darius Vedar-Mendoza.
Rivera got a shoutout from Fleisher for sustaining injuries when he helped save a student who was crossing a street.
“Thank goodness his injuries are not too serious and a worse tragedy was avoided,” Fleisher noted. “We give him a shoutout and gratitude.”
Council members and the mayor encouraged residents to attend the final RISE program info session on Dec. 19; recordings of previous sessions and more information on the grant can be found at https://www.chnj.gov/rise. Applications will close at the end of January.
The next council meeting will be on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 10 a.m.
