Essex County Celebrates Women’s History, Irish Heritage At 2026 Award Ceremonies

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County shone a spotlight on women’s history and Irish heritage at two separate awards ceremonies held in March.

County officials recently held its annual Women’s History Month and Irish Heritage celebrations (see below).

The events are part of a year-long cultural series that highlights the diversity of Essex County. Other celebrations include African American Heritage, Italian Heritage, Jewish Heritage, Latino Heritage and Portuguese Heritage.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

The county’s annual Women’s History Month program took place March 11. The theme of this year’s ceremony was “Students of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow.”

During the ceremony, 2026 Essex County Althea Gibson Leadership Awards were presented to the following recipients:

• Farida Salley from Essex County Donald Payne Sr. School of Technology
• Jordyn-Rose Mercado from Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology
• Rosibel Marinez from Essex County Newark Tech
• Xiomara Rivera from Essex County College

The annual Essex County Althea Gibson Leadership Awards are dedicated to the memory of the late professional tennis and golf legend, who was the first African American to win the Wimbledon Tennis and U.S. Golf Championships. In 1957, Gibson became the first African American to win the All-England Championship. That same year she became the first Black woman to be voted by the Associated Press as its Female Athlete of the Year.

“Through their academic achievements and contributions to their local communities, these remarkable young women are on the road to success,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“Striving for their goals and never letting anything stop them is part of what has driven them to reach the level of success that they have achieved thus far in their lives,” DiVincenzo added. “These young women have made tremendous contributions and are establishing themselves as leaders of our future generations.”

IRISH HERITAGE

The county held its 2026 Irish Heritage Celebration on Wednesday, naming the annual “Irishwoman and Irishman of the Year.”

The yearly event recognizes the impact that local residents have had on the cultural, civic, political, law enforcement and economic history of the county.

Susan Gartland, first vice chair of the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade, was named as the Essex County Irishwoman of the Year.

Msgr. Joseph Reilly, president of Seton Hall University, was named as the Essex County Irishman of the Year.

Gartland said it was “humbling and amazing” to learn she was being honored with the award.

“I am more truly honored than I can express – and it’s even more special because I am surrounded by people I love,” she said at this week’s ceremony.

Reilly said that being a priest is about “representing people” – which he tries to do daily in his work and life.

“This is a meaningful and appreciated honor and it combines two things that make my life, and those are my Irish upbringing and my duties as a priest,” he added.

The county shared the following biographical information about each awardee:

SUSAN GARTLAND – Susan H. Gartland has lived a life dedicated to service, tradition, and community. Born in East Orange and raised in West Caldwell, Susan was guided early on by strong values that would shape her life’s path. She is a graduate of St. Aloysius Grammar School, Mt. Saint Dominic Academy, and The College of Mount St. Vincent. Susan’s call to serve led her into public life, where she dedicated 24 years to the Borough of Caldwell, first as a Councilwoman and later as Mayor. In her professional career, she also served the State of New Jersey in the Department of Consumer Affairs as Executive Director of the Board of Physical Therapy and the Board of Optometric Physicians. Her service did not end with retirement; it simply took on new meaning. She continues to give of her time and talents as a member of the Caldwell Public Library Board of Trustees, Vice Chairwoman of the Caldwell Public Library Foundation, and Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Felician School for Exceptional Children in Lodi. But it is through the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade that Susan’s Irish spirit truly shines. What began as the honor of being named Deputy Grand Marshal became a lasting commitment to a tradition so rich in heritage and heart. Serving as General Chairwoman of the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee from 2021 through 2025, Susan led with pride, perseverance, and a deep love for all the Parade represents. Today, as First Vice Chair, she continues to guide and inspire, helping to keep the tradition alive and the spirit of Ireland strong in the streets of Newark.

JOSEPH REILLY – Monsignor Joseph R. Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., began his tenure as the University’s 22nd president on July 1, 2024. He brings to the presidency a deep understanding of Seton Hall’s identity as a leading Catholic university and a robust vision to elevate its standing among the leading institutions in American higher education. A Mountainside native, Monsignor Reilly attended Seton Hall Prep and graduated from the University in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark in 1991 and then served as a parochial vicar at St. Paul in Ramsey and St. Andrew in Bayonne. In 1995, he joined the staff of Seton Hall Prep, where he served as a faculty member and chaplain. Seven years later, he returned to the University as Rector of the College Seminary at St. Andrew’s Hall. In 2012, he was named Rector/Dean of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, where he served until 2022. During this period, he helped strengthen the University’s Catholic foundation as a member of the Board of Trustees. After a year’s sabbatical, he undertook his most recent post as Vice Provost of Academics and Catholic Identity. In this role, he worked to integrate the University’s Catholic mission into academics – particularly local and international initiatives, and academic programs that make Seton Hall an icon of Catholic higher education. He has served as a member of the Archdiocesan Priest Personnel Board, Advisory Committee on Continuing Education and Ongoing Formation of Priests, Archdiocesan Vocations Board and the Board of Trustees of Seton Hall. His appointment marks the return of a priest-president to Seton Hall, which has been a hallmark of the University for 146 years of its 168-year history. Monsignor Reilly has played key roles in multiple pontificates. St. John Paul II named him a chaplain to His Holiness in 2005 with the title of Reverend Monsignor and Pope Francis appointed him a Missionary of Mercy in 2015. In addition, he has served the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a member of the Faithful Citizenship Strategy Committee and the Catholic Social Teaching Task Force.

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