Below is a collection of past Remembrance and Hope Memorial Vigils.
The Camden County Board of Commissioners and the Addiction Awareness Task Force invited family and friends to remember the loved ones we lost and spread the message of hope to those still fighting the disease of addiction. Help raise awareness of the crisis we’re facing within our community.
2023 Remembrance and Hope Memorial Vigil
Memorial Ceremony
Photos from Vigil
2023 Remembrance & Hope Vigil Program
Invocation
Presentation of Colors
National Anthem
Pledge of Allegiance
Welcome Remarks
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. Liaison, Addiction Awareness Task Force
Messages of Hope
Breaking the Stigma
Congressman Donald Norcross
Combating the Heroin Epidemic
Prosecutor Grace MacAulay
Keynote Speaker
Zac Clark, Co-Founder of Release Recovery, Appeared on 2020 Bachelorette
Remembering Those We Lost
A Brother’s Loss to Addiction
John Tomlinson
Live Acoustic Performance
Video and Musical Presentation Monologue
Closing Remarks
Guests are welcome to walk around the Memorial
Keynote Speaker
Zac Clark
Zac Clark is a mental health, wellness, and addiction recovery advocate, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and business executive who founded and serves as CEO of Release Recovery: a full- service substance use disorder and mental health organization – with multiple facilities throughout New York –that offers transitional living, interventions, case management, and other essential family and recovery support services.
Zac is also the founding board member of Release Recovery Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to remove financial barriers to treatment for those who can’t afford it – specifically those in underserved communities through DEI, LGBTQIA+, and women’s scholarships. The foundation also works to build community to break the stigma around addiction and mental health.
Zac also serves on the board of trustees of Caron Treatment Centers, an internationally renowned organization dedicated to addiction and behavioral healthcare and treatment – and where Zac began his own recovery journey 12 years ago.
In 2020, Zac came to widespread acclaim by openly addressing his addiction and recovery on ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” He uses his large platform to spread hope and raise awareness – especially among young people – about the crucial mental health and addiction issues that plague our country today.
Zac has partnered with global brands, including Reebok, Rhone, and Poland Spring. He grew up in Haddonfield, NJ, is a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan and sneakerhead, played college baseball, and has seen his favorite band Pearl Jam play more than 30 times. He’s finished 12 marathons, as well as completed the coveted Goggins Challenge – raising nearly two million dollars in the process on behalf of Release Recovery Foundation and Caron Foundation. He lives in New York City.
A Brother’s Message of Loss
John Tomlinson
John Tomlinson is a Cherry Hill resident and a father of five whose story is all too common throughout our community. John tragically lost his brother, Joey, to an overdose at a house party in 2015 where party goers left his brother in the bushes before calling an ambulance for help. John will be sharing his family’s story of loss and the ripple effect it has had on all of them at this year’s vigil.
2022 Remembrance and Hope Memorial Vigil
Photos from Vigil
2022 Remembrance & Hope Vigil Program
INVOCATION
Gloucester Township Police Chief Dave Harkins
PRESENTATION OF COLORS
Camden County Joint Color Guard Camden County Sheriff’s Office, Gloucester Township and Pine Hill Police Departments
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Gloucester Township Police Department
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
WELCOME REMARKS
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. Liaison, Addiction Awareness Task Force
MESSAGES OF HOPE
INTRODUCTION OF FIRST SPEAKER.
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli, Jr.
BREAKING THE STIGMA
Congressman Donald Norcross
INTRODUCTION OF SECOND SPEAKER
Commissioner Deputy Director Ed McDonnell
COMBATING THE HEROIN EPIDEMIC
Prosecutor Grace MacAulay
INTRODUCTION OF THIRD SPEAKER
Dominic Vesper, Camden County Deputy County Administrator and Addiction Awareness Task Force Co-Chair
KICKING ADDICTION TO HELPING OTHERS
Joe Owens
REMEMBERING THOSE WE LOST
INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER
John Pellicane, Director, Camden County Department of Mental Health and Addiction
A MOTHER’S STORY
Tanya Niederman
LIVE ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE
VIDEO AND MUSICAL PRESENTATION MONTAGE
CLOSING REMARKS
Commissioner Jeff Nash
Liaison, Parks Department
About Our Speakers
Joseph Owens
Joseph Owens is a person living in recovery from substance use, from Blackwood, NJ. At 18, as a college freshman on scholarship for academics and football at a school in Washington DC, Joe began using drugs and alcohol for which he thought ignorantly was just part of the college experience. His life would change drastically for the next 12 years, he would live in active drug addiction nearly resulting in his life ending and hurting his family and friends along the way. Joseph would struggle to finish college, be found guilty of multiple DUIs, suffer from several overdoses, give away friends, family, and relationships in the process, and completely lose his identity throughout his active addiction. He sought help from various inpatient and outpatient facilities, traveled afar to faith-based programs in Michigan and in Georgia for treatment, try doctors and maintenance options for help, and in the process exhaust any option or person willing to hope.
At 29 years old, while the world adjusted to a global pandemic, Joseph was sleeping on others couches no longer welcome in his own home and would overdose behind the wheel for a second time before finding himself back in detox again. But this time would be different. In May of 2020 Joseph went to a sober house program called Life’s Journey, who offered him yet another chance. He built one good day, on top of one good day. Slowly he saw through the help of his house mates, a sponsor, a consistent and patient routine, that his life improved. At 7-months sober, Joseph would graduate from Rowan University and gift his diploma to his Mother and Father who always loved and prayed for him despite his actions. Joseph now works in treatment as an Outreach Coordinator, is a Master of Social Work Student at Temple and gives back to those in early recovery. He has a girlfriend who loves him, is the “Dogdad” to a puppy named ‘Bryce’ and is active in his family and friends’ lives. He truly has a life he never thought he’d deserve and lives each day in memory for those who are no longer with us. He tries every day to be an example of hope.
Tanya Niederman
Tanya Niederman has resided in South Jersey with her family for over twenty years. She holds many personal and professional roles, but is most proud of mothering her three beautiful children. She lost her oldest child, and only son – JJ Niederman, on February 12, 2021. Since then, she has been actively involved in Camden County’s Fentanyl Awareness Program by sharing her family’s story of loss with others in the hope of saving lives. She’s led the operations side of one of the top real estate teams in the area for the last five years and her commitment to her team and clients is unmatched. Tanya is a powerful force, a true source of optimism to those who know her, and she exhibits bravery and strength in the face of a parent’s greatest trauma – the sudden loss of her son. She is continually inspired by and loves spending time with her daughters, Grace and Carter. She loves watching them train and perform with their Elite All-Star Cheerleading team and also enjoys days at the beach and helping others. You can frequently find Tanya spreading random acts of kindness in JJ’s memory.
2021 Remembrance and Hope Memorial Vigil
Photos from Vigil
2021 Remembrance & Hope Vigil Program
WELCOME
INVOCATION
PRESENTATION OF COLORS
Camden County Joint Color Guard
Camden County Sheriff’s Office,
Gloucester Township and Pine Hill Police Departments
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Investigator David Vannoni
Gloucester Township Police Department
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Al Dyer
WELCOME REMARKS
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli, Jr.
Liaison, Addiction Awareness Task Force
MESSAGES OF HOPE
INTRODUCTION OF FIRST SPEAKER
Commissioner Carmen Rodriguez
Liaison, Addiction Awareness Task Force
COMBATING THE HEROIN EPIDEMIC
U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross
INTRODUCTION OF SECOND SPEAKER
Marianne Aleardi
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief SJ Magazine
& Addiction Awareness Task Force Member
KICKING ADDICTION TO HELPING OTHERS
Chris Therien
Former Philadelphia Flyer and part-owner
Limitless Recovery Center
INTRODUCTION OF THIRD SPEAKER
Commissioner Melinda Kane
BREAKING THE STIGMA
Rabbi Michael Perice
REMEMBERING THOSE WE LOST
INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dominic Vesper
Camden County Deputy County Administrator
and Addiction Awareness Task Force Co-Chair
A MOTHER’S STORY
LIVE ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE OF
ROD STEWARTS “FOREVER YOUNG”
Guitarist Andrew Lipke
VIDEO AND MUSICAL PRESENTATION MONTAGE
CLOSING REMARKS
Commissioner Jeff Nash
Liaison, Parks Department
GUESTS WELCOME TO WALK AROUND MEMORIAL
2020 Remembrance and Hope Memorial Vigil
Memorial Ceremony
Photos from Vigil
2020 Remembrance & Hope Vigil Program
WELCOME
Louis Cappelli Jr.
Camden County Freeholder Director
INVOCATION
Deputy Chief David Harkins #122
CAMDEN COUNTY
JOINT COLOR GUARD
REMARKS
Donald Norcross
Congressman
INTRODUCTION OF RAY MASSI
Dominic Vesper Jr.
Addiction Awareness Task Force Co-Chair
FEATURED SPEAKER
Ray Massi
CLOSING REMARKS
Carmen G. Rodriguez
Camden County Freeholder
Speakers
RAY MASSI
Ray Massi is a longtime resident of Camden County. He retired from the Camden City Police Department after spending 46 years in law enforcement. Ray currently works as the Deputy Director of the Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking
Areas, is an Adjunct Professor at 3 local Universities and is a member of the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force Executive Team.
Ray has been married for 25 years and has 6 children, 4 of whom are adopted. His son Shain struggled and lost his fight with addiction on August 29th, 2019. Ray has also been in recovery for 35 years.