Paramus Mental Health Advocate Named A Hometown Hero

PARAMUS, NJ — A borough advocate for special needs residents was one of 18 people honored Monday at the inaugural Hometown Heroes Awards ceremony at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck.

Mary Ann Uzzi heads the Paramus Stigma Free Zone. She is a longtime mental health advocate and trustee of Care Plus New Jersey, a mental health advocacy center.

"She represents the entrepreneurial spirit shown in many of the awardees today," Gottheimer said in a statement. "And we are grateful for her service on the front lines of health care."

The 19 awardees, including Holy Name Medical Center, were nominated by neighbors, coworkers, friends and family members.

"They are our veterans, our firefighters, our first responders, our educators and our family — our brothers and sisters and our sons and daughters," Gottheimer said. "None of these people stood up because they sought recognition, they did it because they wanted to do what was right.”

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Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), center, celebrates with the district's Hometown Heroes Award recipients. From left to right: Nick Magarelli, Irina Tesoriero, Wendy Loszyinski, Mary Ann Uzzi, Izzy Infield, Joyce Mortorano, Angelae Wilkerson, Sergeant Marc Abate, Argine Safari, Jeanne Martin, Sterling Blake, Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Shannon Lazare, Dong Joo Lee, Ethan Sandlofer, Manny Gonzalez, Mary Ellen Vichiconti, Evan Kutzin, Becky Carlson, Sergeant Brian Joyce, and Teaneck Holy Name Hospital President and CEO Michael Maron.