A Post from Our Mayor

A contribution from our Mayor...

How New Jersey impacted me a long time ago

Gary Engelstad

It was early 1984, my wife Stephanie and I were expecting our first child.  We were living in Columbia, Maryland which is in between Washington, where I worked and Baltimore, where she worked.

So, naturally we were starting to think of names for our incoming baby.  We are both a little Irish so we are focusing on Irish names.  During a visit to Stephanie’s parents in Ocean Township we casually mentioned to Stephanie’s parents that we were thinking of the name “Brendan” if we had a boy.

“No!”, my father-in-law said. “Why not?” was my response.  What could be wrong with the name “Brendan”.“I’m not a fan of Brendan Byrne”, he said, referring to the New Jersey Governor at the time.

So, a few months later in late July, our first son Ryan was born.

Stephanie’s dad unfortunately passed away much too soon two years later after a heroic fight against pancreatic cancer.

In 1986, our first daughter Tori was born and 19 months later another daughter Kelsey was born.

In early 1990, our fourth and final child (yes, we’re Catholic!) came and he just recently had a most unique experience – he got married to Gabrielle in front of 8 total family members.  And yes, his name is Brendan.

Gabrielle and Brendan standing, Ryan in front