Roxbury Library Foundation Announces 2026 Honorees

“A Night in Paris” Gala on November 11 Honors Superlative Community Leaders

Behind every strong community are people who go above and beyond.

Celebrate some of Roxbury’s brightest changemakers at the Roxbury Library Foundation’s ‘A Night in Paris’ Gala on Wednesday, November 11, from 6-9pm, at the Meadow Wood in Randolph.  Now in its sixth year, the Foundation’s Gala fuels the future of Roxbury Public Library.

Don and Marlene Schuld will receive the Ron DeFilippis Community Service Award, named for the Roxbury Library Foundation’s founding treasurer who passed in 2024.  This award celebrates those who embody compassion, generosity and unwavering dedication actively working to improve our community and inspiring others along the way, and the Schuld’s collective service through the Roxbury Rotary, Roxbury Woman’s Club and Naval Order of the United States, to name a few organizations.  In addition, Roxburian Diane Williams, President and CEO of JBWS, will be honored.

“Roxbury and the greater community are better because of the hard work and dedication of Diane Williams and Don and Marlene Schuld.  They inspire all of us to give back to our community and make the world a better place,” said Bob DeFillippo, president of the Roxbury Library Foundation. “We are honored and humbled to feature them at this year’s ‘A Night in Paris’ Library Foundation Gala.”

After expanding its GEM (Give Every Month) program and five celebrated Galas that unites the community through an elegant evening to raise a glass and celebrate the good Roxbury Library brings to the community, the Roxbury Library Foundation has more than $650,000 in the bank for the library renovation and expansion project.  

“To begin phase one of the expansion, which would expand the large meeting room, we need more than two million dollars to break ground,” said DeFillippo.  “We’re hoping ‘A Night in Paris’ will be another record-breaking success, getting us much closer to this goal.”  

The ‘A Night in Paris’ mood-board features elegant, ornate florals and with gilded accents.  And macrons.  Gala guests should expect the unexpected. 

“Get ready to be transported to Paris,” said Steve Alford,  Roxbury Library Foundation’s Vice President and Chair of the organization's sixth annual Gala.  “We welcome support of individual and business sponsors whose generosity help make this special evening -- and the library’s future -- possible.”

The Gala will offer guests an elegant evening of fine-dining, recognition of distinguished community leaders, and a meaningful appreciation for Roxbury Public Library’s role in our community.  The event will also underscore the need for broad financial support to help reach the threshold of when the renovation and expansion can come to life.  . 

Businesses and individuals are invited to support the gala via sponsorship, with levels ranging from $10,000 to $1,000; sponsors receive a variety of benefits, including tickets to the event.  Sponsors who commit by August 30 will also be featured in the Gala Tent at Olde Suckasunny Day on September 19th.  Ads in the program journal can promote businesses or congratulate honorees, and range from $500 to $250.  And beginning in early September, tickets will go on sale for $150.  More information is available at roxburylibrary.org/foundation.

About the Roxbury Library Foundation

The Roxbury Library Foundation was established in 2021 to focus on raising community supportand funds to provide Roxbury with a modern and vibrant Library facility. Our strategy is simple –to be shovel-ready to take advantage of future government construction grant programs. It is avery big task that will take many years. It is a marathon, not a sprint. The Foundation's annual Gala is our largest and primary fundraising event, and we are grateful to all of our sponsors and supporters who are helping us to reach our goals. We invite others to join us at the Gala and as a Library Foundation sponsor.

About the Honorees

Donald W. Schuld  Marlene Schuld     Diane Williams

Don Schuld was born on July 12, 1940, in Staten Island, New York. In 1949, his family moved to Hopatcong, New Jersey, where he attended Hudson Maxim School and graduated from Roxbury High School in 1958.

That same year, Don enlisted in the United States Navy, reporting to Great Lakes Training Center in December 1958. After completing boot camp and specialized training in electronics and radar, he served as a radar operator aboard the USS Little Rock (CLG-4), the Navy’s newest guided missile cruiser at the time. He served with distinction until his discharge in December 1962.

Following his military service, Don built a successful 21-year career with Metropolitan Life as an agent and manager. In 1983, he opened his own independent insurance office in Ledgewood, New Jersey, which he operated until October 2016. His professional accomplishments include serving as President of the North Jersey Life Underwriters Association (1975–76), acting as a National Convention delegate for four years, and being named New Jersey Life Underwriter of the Year in 1982.

Don has maintained a lifelong connection to his naval service. In 1991, he co-founded the USS Little Rock Association, growing it to more than 1,000 members and serving seven years as president. In 2006, he received the President’s Award for exceptional service to Navy and Marine Corps veterans. He later served more than 14 years as Vice Commander General for Membership in the Naval Order of the United States and earned the Commander General Medal seven times. He also served as Commander of the New York Commandery.

A dedicated community leader, Don has been actively involved in many local organizations. He served in the Roxbury Fire Department, as Vice President of the Roxbury Chamber of Commerce, and as a longtime member and past president (1982–83) of the Roxbury Rotary, where he is a four-time Paul Harris Fellow. His leadership helped launch projects such as the restoration of Morris Canal Incline Plane #2, construction of the Horseshoe Lake Park pavilion, and development of a park at Conkling Pond.

Don also served 21 years on the Roxbury Juvenile Conference Committee and participated in the Lake Hopatcong Regional Planning Board. He and his wife, Marlene, have hosted international students and led exchange trips to Japan.

Honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the James Sprow Memorial Foundation in 1995, Don also enjoys woodworking, reading naval history, and creating miniature sleighs. He and Marlene live in Flanders, New Jersey, and have two children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Marlene Schuld was born in Scranton, PA.  She was raised and attended school in Newark, NJ, graduating from Newark State Teachers College in 1957.

That same year, she launched her teaching career at the newly opened Franklin School in Roxbury Township. Over the course of 36 years in the district, Marlene became an active leader in the Roxbury Education Association, ultimately serving two terms as its president. She retired from public education in 1993, but continued working with young learners for several years at The Academy in Roxbury, a private preschool.

Her commitment to the community extended well beyond the classroom. Marlene served as a Library Trustee and as a board member of the Roxbury Day Care Center. Through her involvement with the Roxbury Woman’s Club, she chaired the Education and Libraries Committee, overseeing initiatives such as the High School Scholarship program, the Girls’ Career Institute at Rutgers University, the 6th Grade Book Report Contest, and Read Across America.

In recognition of her service, Marlene was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Roxbury Rotary for her many volunteer contributions.

She enjoys reading, traveling, and welcoming family and friends into her home. Above all, Marlene treasures time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Diane Williams has dedicated more than 25 years to nonprofit leadership in northern New Jersey, supporting families impacted by trauma and abuse. For two decades, she has served in management and executive roles. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Diane has maintained a private practice in Morris County since 2006 specializing in trauma treatment, and she previously served as an adjunct professor in Montclair State University’s Master’s in Child Advocacy program. 

Diane joined JBWS as President & CEO in 2018 and quickly led a rebrand from Jersey Battered Women’s Service to JBWS—Safety, Support, and Solutions for Abuse—reflecting inclusivity across gender identities and forms of abuse. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, she ensured uninterrupted services, maintaining shelter and transitional housing operations while transitioning other programs to remote access.  In 2020, Diane spearheaded a comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative, embedding racial equity into JBWS’ strategic planning, revising job credentials to value lived experience, and creating a Vice President of People and Culture role. That same year, she was named an NJBIZ “Top 25 Force for Change.”  In 2022, Diane launched JBWS’ Wellness Initiative Supporting Health (W.I.S.H.) to address secondary trauma among staff and clients. Through a community partnership, JBWS created wellness rooms that support holistic healing and organizational sustainability. 

Beyond JBWS, Diane is a respected statewide and national advocate, serving on advisory councils and legislative forums, presenting best practices on wellness and equity, and championing housing and domestic violence funding. In February of 2025, she was appointed to the Inter-Agency Council on Homelessness by Senate President Nicholas Scutari. She has received multiple honors for her visionary, collaborative leadership, most recently guiding JBWS into a $4 million capital campaign to expand shelter capacity with pet‑friendly family housing.  Diane has lived in Roxbury since 2004.  Her son Matthew Velasquez and daughter Nicole Velasquez both attended elementary, middle and high school in Roxbury.  Matthew, 24, graduated from Rutgers with a degree in economics and Nicole, 19, is currently attending Monmouth University’s nursing program.