Former Monmouth County Commissioner Lillian G. Burry was welcomed and received a standing ovation at the regular meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council Thursday night, when Mayor Lori Hohenleitner presented her with a proclamation honoring all her years of service to Monmouth County residents.
In presenting the proclamation, Mayor Hohenleitner said she was eager to praise the outgoing County Commissioner and made it a priority to recognize Commissioner Burry at her own first meeting as Mayor because of all she has done.
Ms Hohenleitner cited the numerous areas where Commissioner Burry has achieved success for Monmouth County and where she has been recognized by numerous groups and organizations for her hard work in the fields of history, the arts, education, and the military.
She also referred to several citations from various organizations, including the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Spinnaker Award, the NJ Federation of Women, the first Clare French Award and the Soldier On organization which recently named the women’s wing at their facility in Tonton Falls after Mrs. Burry.
Commissioner Burry, who did not seek re-election to the Board of Commissioners, is a cum laude graduate of Wagner College where she majored in political science and history and earned a Fellowship in political science.
She first served on the borough council when she and her husband Don, a retired Coast Guard Captain, lived in Matawan, then was elected both as a committeewoman and later Mayor in Colts Neck when the family moved to that township.
She was also elected to six terms on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders (now Commissioners) serving several years as Freeholder Director.
The freeholder has also maintained her Colts Neck Realty office in Colts Neck for more than 40 years and has been a strong force in both the numerous facilities at Fort Monmouth following the closure of the army base, as well as historic Fort Hancock, where she is a member of the Fort Hancock historical 21st century Commission.
She has also been a long time supporter and frequent speaker at MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology and was instrumental in the current plans to reconstruct a former barracks into an indoor drill field for the NJROTC cadets at MAST.
Councilman James Murphy also led more applause for Commissioner Burry when he recognized her birthday, which was Monday, January 15.
In accepting the standing ovation from the crowd in Atlantic Highlands, Commissioner Burry thanked Mayor Hohenleitner for the honor, explaining the borough holds a special place in her heart since her daughter and son-in-law live in town and her granddaughter was raised here.
Atlantic Highlands is the second town in Monmouth County to give special appreciation thanks and honors to Commissioner Burry. Her hometown of Colts Neck also recognized the former mayor at a recent meeting. She was also honored by more than 100 guests last month at a gala reception she and her husband hosted at Eagle Oaks Country Club to recognize her retirement from the political arena.
