ANNOUNCING
THE 2022 RECIPIENTS of
The SERVICE Award
Karin Erdtmann and Bobby Thompson
The Service Award is awarded to those community members who have dedicated their efforts in serving their fellow parishioners and Academy families, either through time, talent or treasure.
The road to a life of service at OLMC couldn’t be more different for our two Service Award recipients. Bobby Thompson grew up in the parish. Karin Erdtmann’s journey began in Taiwan.
Bobby Thompson
“I’ve been coming to OLMC since I was two years old!” Bobby begins. “When it was the old wooden church facing Hillside Avenue.” Bobby, who can be seen at every 8 A.M. Mass as soon as the doors open, is much more than an usher. He’s as comfortable greeting parishioners in the narthex as if he was in his own living room, that’s how much OLMC feels like home. “I love saying ‘good morning’ to everyone.” As faithful keeper of the much-needed attendance, Bobby holds court before Mass and his generous laugh can often be heard before he is seen.
Bobby’s life of service began as a member of the prestigious 101st Airborne Division as part of the honor guard. He completed intense training and became a local pilot. Professionally, he’s been a roofer, working on projects as diverse as historic houses of worship and the homes of many Hollywood stars living in our area. His life of patriotic service continued as he served over five decades with the Elks Club, but Bobby would be the first to tell you it’s all God’s blessing. “I never miss 8 A.M. Mass on Sunday, and I thank God every single day for the many blessings that I have been given.”
Karin Erdtmann
Experiencing many different faith traditions in locations as diverse as Taiwan, Costa Rica, Chicago and New York City, Karin Erdtmann’s faith journey is as vivid as her commitment to service. While not raised particularly religious, Karin first began attending Christian fellowships and bible studies, and was enriched by an experience from caring nuns in a Catholic school in South America. Her experiences found clarity when she met Dr. Anney Mannacheril. “I had met her through my medical billing consulting business at the time. We happened to carpool to work several mornings, and she brought me to Mass before going to the office,” Karin explains. “Dr. Anney, as everyone called her, is a devout Catholic. She re-introduced me to God and Jesus. It was not by words, but through action and devotion. By quietly praying at Mass, she instilled my faith with God.”
Karin and her husband Mark have kept the example taught to her by her good friend. Karin found herself planting roots in Tenafly when she had another caring nun: OLMC staff member and fellow Hall of Fame inductee, Sr. Regina Chassar became her catechist and guide. She has raised her two children in the faith and whether it’s serving on the parish council, serving as a catechist, generously giving to parish causes or making homemade desserts for our neighbors in need at our walk-in dinner program, it is now Karin’s example that instills the faith into the next generation as her and Mark’s two children are founding members of OLMC’s newly energized teen service program, Catholic Heart WorkCamp. “I hope to continue this mission and contribute my efforts,” Karin says. It is certainly our turn to follow her example!