Woman strives to help some of world’s neediest Karen Brotea invests time, money in helping Ecuadorian community BY JOHN DUNPHY Staff Writer MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Karen Brotea, of Sheffield Mews in Sayreville, has participated in the Rotary Club’s Homes of Hope project for the last two years. In July, she and other club members went to San Pablo, Ecuador, to help turn the poor village into a self-sufficient entity. SAYREVILLE — It takes a village to build a village. That is the philosophy behind Homes of Hope, a project started by the Rotary Club, an international service organization with a local chapter in Sayreville and South Amboy. Karen Brotea, of Sheffield Mews on Main Street, has participated in the Homes of Hope project for the last two years. In July, she spent two weeks in the village of San Pablo, Ecuador. A Sayreville resident since March, the 57-year-old previously lived in Edison. But the mother of two grown children never stays in one place for long. “I worked in India, traveling to Nepal to trek the Himalayas,” Brotea said. “There I saw so much poverty it was overwhelming.” She has been married to Romanian native Cornel Brotea for 11 years; the couple wed in Bucharest and honeymooned in Transylvania. “I just had a chance to visit Prince Vlad Dracu’s castle,” she said. “Yup, Dracula.” Though Brotea has only been involved with the Rotary Club for two years, she has spent nearly a lifetime offering a helping hand to those who need it, starting as a nurse’s assistant, which used to be referred to as a candy striper or pinky, when she was 14. The Homes of Hope project not only builds homes, it also builds communities and then teaches those within the community to be self-sufficient. “[The villagers] must take part in all that we do, and also must pay a fraction of the costs so they are committed to bettering themselves,” Brotea said. “They are very proud of what they have accomplished and we are proud of them too.” Homes of Hope was organized in 2001 by Doug Merritt, a Rotary member from another chapter. While the project began with just the construction of homes in poor villages throughout the world, it quickly expanded into building community infrastructures. President Annette Hopman explained that Okun was offered an extension of her contract and chose instead to spend more time with her loved ones. “You’re an act never to be repeated,” Garvey told Okun. Another parent echoed Garvey’s sentiments, adding that parents don’t want to see the superintendent leave. “It’s been my pleasure to work with Dr. Okun because of her high degree of professionalism and sincerity that she brings to her office every day,” said Middlesex County Superintendent Patrick A. Piegari. Piegari called Okun “an asset to Old Bridge,” and many agree with him. “You have touched countless lives, including mine,” said board member John Allen, who was a student at Carpenter and at Salk during the times that Okun was a principal at both. “She’s an icon in this town,” said board member Fred Colabella. “We will never find anyone with her work ethic,” said member and former board President Gail Kubicke. “She is the only superintendent I know on call 24-7. To me, she’s wonderful. I can’t even imagine what we will be without her.” As Kubicke spoke about Okun at Tuesday night’s meeting, her voice shook and her eyes teared. But Okun announced will leave something behind. “This spring, I will be donating $10,000 to establish a superintendent’s scholarship to be awarded annually to an Old Bridge High School senior,” Okun said. Instead of any retirement festivities, she requested that donations be made to the scholarship fund or to relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina. “I really feel that that would be my greatest legacy,” Okun said. Okun said she will help the board draw up a transition plan for her successor. “If there is something that we need, and we call Dr. Okun, I’m sure that she will be there for us,” Hopman said.