Brookdale names WWII center after Narozanick
BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer

DAN NEWMAN Holding the scissors (l-r) are Brookdale Community College President Peter Burnham and Freeholder Emeritus Ted Narozanick as they get ready to cut the ribbon at the Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution, which was named for Narozanick.

MIDDLETOWN - For nearly 50 years, Ted Narozanick served the residents of Mon-mouth County in various capacities, including seven consecutive three-year terms on the Board of Freeholders.

It took him far less time to be presented with an honor as impressive as his public service record on April 19, when the Brookdale Community College board of trustees named the college's Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution after Narozanick at a ceremony at the Bankier Library on campus.

Narozanick, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received a Bronze Star while involved in World War II, was honored in front of former colleagues on the freeholder board, Brookdale President Peter Burnham and many others.

"I feel it's appropriate that we're honoring Ted today because he has meant so much to this project," Burn-ham said. "Ted is a man of high standards, and we thank him for his service and dedication and loyalty to our school. Now with the opening of the center, we want everyone to use it, as it really is a community resource."

According to materials provided by the college, the center "is dedicated to stimulating and fostering the study of the historical, political, social, economic and military aspects of World War II in order to understand the impact of the war on world history and to help future generations avoid armed conflict in the resolution of global problems."

Current Freeholder Robert Clifton, who wasn't born when Narozanick went off to Europe to fight in the war, described what the freeholder emeritus meant not only to his home area, but to the nation.

"Ted was part of the 'Greatest Gen-eration' of Americans, and what he did for his country was absolutely outstan-ding," Clifton said. "As a Monmouth County administrator in the 1950s and 1960s and even during his time as a freeholder, Ted did everything he could to help this county, and so this really is a well-deserved honor for him. We're all glad to be able to share this day with him."

After Burnham, Clifton and Paul Zigo, assistant professor of history and director of the center, feted Narozanick, it was time for the man of honor to say a few words.

"I'm at a loss to express my appreciation for this event," Narozanick said. "As I enter my 87th year, I have plenty to look back on, and I am fortunate.

"I truly am honored and humbled," Narozanick, of Freehold, said. "To have students come here and learn about World War II and learn about the greatest generation ever is amazing. Through that, they'll hopefully become very educated young people and they will be prepared for the future."