No. Brunswick loses beloved resident expert
Mary Pinkham, 85, passed away Feb. 4
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer
'Here's to good women: May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them."

Mary Pinkham

Mary Pinkham passed away last week at the age of 85. The longtime resident of North Brunswick was heavily involved in her community and attended as many township meetings as possible until she fell ill with a respiratory illness.

Pinkham had lived in North Brunswick since 1951 when her husband was relocated. After her son was born, she decided to work full time, and she worked at North Brunswick Township High School as an aide the second year it opened, becoming a supervisor the following year.

After five years at the high school, she became a receptionist and switchboard operator for the township. She held that job for eight years before retiring in 1987.

Living in town for just under 60 years, Pinkham had challenged the administrations of 10 different mayors, challenging protocols and procedures and making officials ensure that quality of life was met in the community. She also attended Board of Education meetings on a regular basis.

FILE PHOTO Mary Pinkham, who was a resident expert in North Brunswick, passed away last week.

Although she never held public office, Pinkham admittedly tried to be the conscience of those who do, offering her opinions of how the town should be run based on her experiences of living there for almost six decades. Yet despite her sharp tongue and fiery attitude, she was deeply respected by township officials.

"Mary exemplified the virtues of an active citizen who cares about her community, and who is not afraid to get involved," said Mayor Francis "Mac" Womack. "We already miss her voice."

Pinkham had also contributed to the North Brunswick Historical Society and was honored with the Ann Marie Chandlee Heritage Day Award in 2005.

In 2007, the township council honored her by dedicating the municipal courtroom in her honor.

"Mary is the type of person every town should have. She was the watchdog for North Brunswick, and she made sure the mayor, the council and the directors were doing their jobs properly," said Councilman Bob Davis. "She will be sorely missed, and I will miss her personally, too."

Some of Pinkham's memorable comments included her speaking of sitting with a double-barrel shotgun by the former Otken farm property. She wanted to take two buildings and try to renovate them, possibly to start a brothel. She constantly called out "Tommy" in an effort to catch the attention of Tom Vigna, the former director of the Department of Community Development. She said the geese in town should be hung by their tongues, marinated with Roselle wine, stuffed with apricots and raisins and made into "good eats."

She had said that it was "buffalo dung" that a replacement had not yet been named to the Department of Public Works. She said that statements made by potential developers at the Planning Board's master plan review sessions were "as smooth as crap coming out of a goose." When the new Middlesex County Medical Examiner's Facility opened on Livingston Avenue, Pinkham said, "You're gonna get a lot of stiffs over there. ... My body is going to science so I won't be using that building. Get one or two buildings and start a brothel — I'll be the madam." On a speed hump survey for neighborhoods around town, she checked off "yes" to approve them, but at the bottom wrote, "but not on my street."

"Mary is what everyone else who comes to meetings is not," said Councilman Carlo Socio. "Mary's attendance and her participation revolved around her love of the town. If there was an issue in town, she knew about it, and sometimes she knew about it before we knew about it.

"Everyone can try as much as they want but there is never going to be another Mary Pinkham," Socio continued. "Wednesday, when Mary Pinkham died, a part of North Brunswick died too."

Contact Jennifer Amato at

jamato@gmnews.com.