The New Jersey School Boards Association is sending out wishes for a very happy 99th birthday to Florence “Peggy” Saslow, who was named its Board Member of the Year in 2014. She celebrates her birthday June 23.
Saslow was named the board member of the year at age 91 and was a longtime member of the New Milford Board of Education, where she lived for about 70 years and taught 27 years at the high school. She is a mother of three, grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of seven. In addition to her board service, she was a longtime library volunteer.
On April 2, the New Milford High School tennis courts were dedicated in her honor. That event attracted about 100 people, including the mayor, a legislator, councilwoman, school superintendent, former students and others.
In wishing Saslow a happy birthday, NJSBA Executive Director Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod applauded her many accomplishments. “When you think of the qualities our Board Member of the Year award has come to exemplify, you can’t help but think of Peggy Saslow,” he said. “We know that the entire education community joins us in wishing her the very happiest of birthdays – and we wish her more happy birthdays to come.”
At the time Saslow was named the Board Member of the Year, she had served 19 years on New Milford’s board, having taught home economics and middle school science at the district prior to her election. She was called a “consummate education lifer,” and a “tireless proponent for grass roots advocacy” when she was nominated for NJSBA’s Board Member of the Year award.
Saslow has also been a delegate to the NJSBA Delegate Assembly and the Bergen County School Boards Association. She is a previous Janet S. Lobsenz Award winner, an award given by the Bergen County School Boards Association, which recognizes excellence among school board members.