Steve Roberts – arguably Bayonne’s most prestigious writer – once said Ida Zeik was the first person outside his family to “see some spark of ability,” in his talents as a writer. He was creating imaginative compositions about such subjects as nature.

“Ida Zeik was never a classroom teacher of mine, just a principal,” Roberts said when contacted about the story. “But she certainly was someone who encouraged students with great zest.”

The late Ida Picker Zeik (1906-1993) was all about Bayonne, not only a teacher and scholar whose research on the history of Bayonne in itself might have given her a place in the city’s history, but she was also the second of five generations of Picker women to live in Bayonne. She was an educator and an advocate of the arts, a principal of Lincoln School who was tapped by then President Lyndon Johnson to help draft the concepts for the Head Start Program – arguably, the most effective educational reform made in the latter half of the 20th century.
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“I have to tell you as a woman of achievement, I just did what I was supposed to do.” -- Joan Rosen
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Zeik was a graduate of Bayonne High School and earned a doctorate in English and education. Because of her work in and outside of Bayonne, she was noted in Who’s Who of American Women for her philanthropic endeavors in the arts and education.

She was also known for her research and her recollections about industry in Bayonne, and featured in at least one film talking about the city.

Meryl Robin said this is the first year the Bayonne Historical Society is honoring local women of achievement and their role in the city, part of a new initiative that will continue.

“We are choosing two women each year who are nominated by the community who are alive, and we’re honoring one person from the past who has helped Bayonne throughout the years and perhaps their legacy has lived on in the city,” she said.

The ceremony honoring the women took place on April 13 in the O’Connor Gallery of the Bayonne Public Library.

The second honoree, Joan Hajducsek Rosen, who is an advocate of the arts and director of music and art at the Bayonne Board of Education, could not attend, so was interviewed on video tape prior to the event. She recounted her memories of Zeik and talked about her own accomplishments.

Joan is a graduate of Holy Family Academy, NYU, and Kean College. On the local, county, state, and national level, she is active in many professional organizations. Joan is currently vice president of the Art Administrators of New Jersey.

“I have to tell you as a woman of achievement, I just did what I was supposed to do,” Rosen said. “It’s an honor. I’m humbled by it to be in such a wide venue of women who have been acknowledged for their achievements in the city of Bayonne. But all I did is what I like to do.”

The third honoree of the evening was Ginger Boyle Kemp, business owner and community activist. Ginger has been a resident of Bayonne since 1987. She was the organizer of the Bayonne Hometown Fair, and was the first woman president of the Rotary club. She was part of the City of Bayonne emergency response team on Sept. 11, 2001. Kemp has donated time and resources to help many not-for-profit groups in Bayonne.

“How did I feel? Extremely humbled,” Kemp said. “I did not invent anything, didn't teach anyone, and didn’t change the world. I think the only thing I ever did was work, appreciate the people I worked for/with, and celebrate their goodness. I am a Hudson County girl, born in Hoboken (St. Mary's Hospital), grew up in North Bergen on 75th Street. I went to Robert Fulton and North Bergen High School, and I’ve been living in Bayonne since 1987 and my obit in the ‘BCN/Hudson Reporter’ will hopefully say, ‘She did her best.’”

Those who attended the event on April 13 were also presented with a list of over 25 local women of achievement and nomination forms for additional honorees.

For more information about the Bayonne Historical Society and its projects, visit the Web site at www.bayonnenj.org/historical or phone President Lee Fahley at (201) 436-5978.

The society also introduced this year for the first time a scholarship program.

To qualify for the Leadership in Community Service Scholarship, a student must be a resident of Bayonne, must be a registered accredited college/university-bound senior in a Bayonne high school for the current academic year, must have a GPA of 3.2 or above, must be active in leadership in the Bayonne community, and must take part in extracurricular activities.

Applications and instructions are available in the high school guidance office. The deadline for applying is May 7.