In September, school officials will kick-off several dedication ceremonies to Superintendent Steve Mayer.
ROBBINSVILLE -- "Make someone's day today."
Robbinsville Schools Superintendent Steve Mayer said that to his sons as they headed off to school each morning.
In the fall, Mayer's mantra will greet students entering the township's three schools via plaques engraved with his four words of daily advice.
It's just one of several ways Robbinsville's school district plans to honor Mayer, who was killed April 19 as he took a morning jog with his dog on Robbinsville-Edinburg Road.
A then-17-year-old Robbinsville High School student struck the married father of three as she drove to the school catch a bus for a field trip.
The teen girl, whose name has not been made public, is charged with death by auto for allegedly causing his death while recklessly driving while talking on a cell phone, and leaving the scene of the crash.
On September 10, school and township officials will kick-off several dedication ceremonies:
- Robbinsville High School's athletic complex will be named after Mayer.
- His initials, "SJM," will be embedded onto the new field turf at the school.
- The engraved plaques will be unveiled at the entrances to Sharon School, Pond Road Middle School and the high school.
N.J. superintendent's legacy will live on
"It is truly an honor to work closely with the school district and have the blessing of the Mayer family regarding this moving and appropriate dedication,'' Mayor Dave Fried said in an announcement obtained by NJ Advance Media.
"We agree wholeheartedly with the decision to dedicate the athletic complex. The high school campus is a most fitting place for this remarkable tribute, and the township is here to assist in any way it can," Fried said in the statement.
The school district also plans this coming school year to initiate a "multi-faceted" fundraising campaign to raise money for one of Mayer's visions: a new field house on the grounds of the athletic complex.
School Board President Matthew T. O'Grady said in the statement the dedication suggestions received from throughout the community were overwhelming and humbling.
"I think it is safe to say we were all blown away by the outpouring of love and support," O'Grady said. "Ultimately, our committee and the township truly believe having it on the high school campus is the right thing to do, and having the blessing of the Mayer family sealed it for us."
Robbinsville will donate $14,000 from the sale of "Robbinsville Strong" t-shirts and wristbands to the Robbinsville Education Foundation (REF) as part of the effort.
The statement said the township used the same proceeds to donate $10,000 to organizations where Mayer was involved, Deerfoot Lodge in New York, and Hope Unlimited for Children in Brazil.
Anyone interested in donating to the field house fund can contact REF representative Sharon DeVito at sdevito106@aol.com. And contributions to the Mayer Family Education Fund are still being accepted at mayerfund@gmail.com.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.