Scholarship Derby to Honor Brookdale Alumna Joan Brearley

OCEANPORT, NJ – The Brookdale Community College Alumni Association will honor the memory of one of its most accomplished former members Sept. 20 with a scholarship derby at Monmouth Park, 175 Oceanport Avenue, Oceanport.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., the event will a feature a full program of races, a buffet luncheon in the Omnibus Box, door prizes and a free mint julep to benefit the newly created Joan Brearley Scholarship fund.

Brearley, a radio producer, author, magazine editor and teacher, also served on the Sea Bright Borough Council, the New Jersey School Boards Association and more than 20 other county and state groups throughout her life. She passed away in 2012.

“We used to call her superwoman,” said Doris Hudak, the first vice president of the Brookdale alumni association and a long-time friend of Brearley. “It’s hard to believe one person could do all of those things. This is just our way of honoring all of her work and keeping her memory alive.”

Brearley, a former president of the alumni association, earned three degrees from Brookdale along with degrees from Monmouth University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She was a long-time substitute teacher at Rumson-Fair Haven High School and a member of the Shore Regional Board of Education.

She was also past president of the Monmouth Federation of Republican Women, board member of the Monmouth County Youth Detention Center and past chairwoman of the Monmouth County Human Relations Commission.

“This event will pay tribute to Joan for her years of loyal service and raise funds to provide a scholarship in her name,” said Tim Zeiss, executive director of the alumni association.

Tickets to the benefit are $45. To RSVP, call Doris Hudak at 732-842-0785 or click here for more information.