At its annual Night of Champions, Special Olympics New Jersey honors and celebrates outstanding individuals and groups.
In the year leading up to the big event, award candidates are identified and nominated by their peers. These nominations are reviewed by a committee, and finally the award recipients are revealed. Awards categories include 13 outstanding county athletes, several volunteers, spirit awards, Special Olympics New Jersey Hall of Fame, Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall of Fame, and a Lifetime Achievement award.
The Special Olympics Marc S. Edenzon Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals with at least 15 years of involvement with the Special Olympics movement who have demonstrated a lifetime of commitment and compassion to the athletes of Special Olympics New Jersey. The award was presented by Marc S. Edenzon.
“I want to congratulate Special Olympics New Jersey on their selection of the recipient of this years’ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Mr. Bob Ryan. There is an article from a few years back where Bob stated: “This may sound strange, but one day I heard the term Special Olympics, and something in my brain, or someplace, said that’s where you belong…
That something or someplace… “a few years back” was almost 45 years ago!” Bob has volunteered for this organization for 45 years, and may never had been noticed. Never been in the spotlight. Never recognized by any in this room tonight.
When he wasn’t volunteering doing credentials in a volunteer workroom in the office prior to events, he assumed various behind-the-scenes volunteer positions throughout the year and onsite at competitions. Bob Ryan served as a critical part of the force that over the years constructed the foundation of all that we experience in Special Olympics today. But the small things, the small contributions that collectively have become a pretty remarkable lifetime body of work. Bob, we now ask that you direct your attention to the screen to here from some people who know you well.
Dr. Mininberg, Delores Zukowski, Pat Schwartz, Bessie Perlman Lemke, Slootsky, Halpern, Issac, Snodgrass, Sullivan. All names critical to the building of this organization, all your friends and associates from the early years, and all a generation apart from so many in this room here tonight. You have been doing this for a hell of a long time Mr Ryan, might I say a lifetime.
Over Bob’s 45 years of volunteering for Special Olympics, he has touched the lives of thousands of athletes, family members and volunteers, starting as a Board member in the 80s, to volunteering and attending 40+ Summer Games, volunteering at too many polar plunges to count, State Festivals, local events and more. But what may be the most personal of all is not just the stories about athletes he has met throughout the years, but playing the role of dad and coach to his daughter, Alex, who participates in track & field, soccer & aquatics. Bob, that something in your brain 45 years ago that told you that Special Olympics is where you belong… thanks for listening!
Great people built this organization – the athletes who excel beyond our imagination and the volunteers who are determined to ensure they will.
On behalf of every person in this room tonight, along with the tens of thousands of athletes, family members and volunteers who asked for information and directions at Summer Games over the last 20 years, and to the tens of thousands of athletes and volunteers who wore the credentials you laminated, those who never knew your name: Thank you!
Tonight I invite you onto this stage in front of 400 athletes, family members, volunteers, Law Enforcement torch runners, sponsors and guests, and finally, after almost 45 years of serving our athletes “behind the scenes” we welcome you to step forward in recognition and accept the 2024 Special Olympics New Jersey Lifetime Achievement Award.“