Activity Center Renamed in Honor of Past Directors

Thomas A. Barrett and Julie A. Tatti have made a difference in the lives of a countless number of adults with special needs and their families.  As a tribute to their services, the Department for Persons with Disabilities’ (DPD) new Activity Center was named after the pair.

Last week, Barrett, Tatti, their friends and family members, representatives from the Diocese of Paterson, residents and staff members from the DPD and members of the DPD’s Board of Trustees came together at Wiegand Farm in Oak Ridge to reopen the DPD’s indoor pool, dedicate the facility in honor of Tatti and Barrett and officially launch the “Pave to Save” fundraiser.  

The building was officially renamed the “Julie A. Tatti and Thomas A. Barrett Activity Center” This honor came as a surprise to Barrett and Tatti. 

“The day was really spectacular and was a total surprise.  I was truly touched by the event and never expected to have a building named in honor of Tom and me.  I am so grateful to all of the wonderful people at the DPD”, Tatti said. 

Barrett was the DPD’s Executive Director from 1983 until 2007, before being promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Diocese of Paterson by Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli, the Bishop of Paterson. 

Tatti became Executive Director in 2007 and retired in February.  Both Barrett and Tatti have been involved with the DPD for nearly four decades.

The DPD has three group homes, administrative offices and an indoor pool building at Wiegand Farm in Oak Ridge.  This area was once used by the Diocese of Paterson as a camp for children with special needs. Since then, the DPD has grown into the largest Catholic Charities Agency in the country, providing care for adults with developmental disabilities.  

During the winter of 2010 the pool building collapsed because of heavy snow accumulation on the roof. 

The residents and staff members of the DPD were without the use of their pool for an entire summer, but were happy to be a part of the special day. 

“I was glad to be a part of the ceremony honoring Tom and Julie.  So much went into organizing this event and everyone involved deserves a big thank you.  Donald, a 30-year resident of the DPD, also enjoyed himself and was so excited that he had a picture of himself on the wall.  Donald and I were proud to be a part of this special celebration," said Lynne Rockstroh, the Director of the Finnegan House in Oak Ridge.

A resident and staff member from each of the DPD’s eleven group homes attended the ceremony and dinner catered by the Brownstone in Paterson. 

The DPD provides residential, vocational and social support for adults with special needs throughout Passaic, Morris and Sussex County.  The DPD also operates the Gruenert Center, a vocational day program for adults with special needs, in Lake Hopatcong.  The DPD has more than 100 volunteers and operates the longest running group home for adults with special needs in New Jersey, the Murray House in Clifton.

In addition to honoring Barrett and Tatti, this ceremony also launched the DPD’s “Pave to Save” fundraising campaign. 

“After the pool collapsed, we had the opportunity to put in pavers around and behind the new building.  We will be honoring all of the residents of the DPD who have passed away with an engraved brick.  We will also be honoring the Knights of Columbus who have been one of our top supporters throughout our 46 year history.  Everything has tied nicely together and we hope that this fundraiser will be profitable for the agency, to help us to continue to provide a very high level of support for the residents of the DPD," said the DPD director of development and public relations, Chris Brancato.

“Coming to work each day is a joy for me because of the residents, staff members and supporters of the DPD.  Many of them came out to support Tom and Julie on this special occasion.  We were proud to honor these two wonderful people who have meant so much to the Department for Persons with Disabilities.  It is a day I will always remember and cherish,” said Scott Milliken, DPD Executive Director.

For more information about the Department for Persons with Disabilities, please contact Chris Brancato at 973-406-1104 or go to www.dpd.org or www.facebook.com/dpdcc. 

For more information about the DPD’s Pave to Save Fundraiser please go to www.dpd.org/brick.