School Board, Administrators Honor Retired Longtime Member

Members of the Westwood Regional Board of Education and district administrators held a tribute celebration Tuesday for Barbara Gregory, a 24-year member of the board who retired at the end of last month.

The celebration was held at Gregory's favorite local restaurant, Granita Grille, where they "helped us treat her like a queen for the night," according to board President Roberta Hanlon.

Gregory has spent much of her life in education. Before she joined the board in 1989, she volunteered in Westwood Regional Schools when her children were students. She also worked as a teacher in River Vale prior to that.

She previously told Patch she planned to spend more time with her eight grandchildren and traveling with her husband during her retirement. She also said she hopes to continue volunteering in the district, where two of her grandchildren currently attend school.

Gregory also previously said she hoped some "good, young, viable parents" would apply to take her seat and continue moving the district forward. Two candidates have put their names up for the seat in November's election. The board will also have to appoint someone to fill the for the rest of the year at their meeting later this month.