Thursday, October 1, 2026
79 ° Clear
79 ° Clear
Surrounded by family, friends and community leaders, longtime volunteer Martin J. "Marty" Wade was inducted into the Northampton Township Wall of Honor on July 16, becoming just the fifth person to receive the distinction since the program was established in 2018.
The ceremony, held at Northampton Township Municipal Park, celebrated more than three decades of volunteer service that helped shape many of the township's parks, recreational facilities and youth programs.
The Wall of Honor recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to Northampton Township and improved the quality of life for its residents through volunteer service, leadership and community involvement. Candidates are nominated by the public and selected by a committee before receiving final approval from the township's Board of Supervisors.
Dr. Kim Rose, a long-serving member of the Northampton Township Board of Supervisors, served as the evening’s master of ceremonies.
"It is truly an honor to stand before you this evening as we celebrate a man whose life has been defined by service, integrity, humility and an unwavering commitment to others," Rose said.
"Those who know Marty understand that he never worked for recognition," Rose added. "He simply believed that if there's something that needed to be done, you rolled up your sleeves and got to work."
Rose traced Wade's journey from attending North Catholic High School to earning an engineering degree from Temple University and serving in the National Guard from 1970 to 1976.
After moving to Northampton Township, Wade joined the Parks and Recreation Board in 1987 at the encouragement of former Supervisor George Komelasky. Over the next 37 years, he played a key role in developing Big Meadow Park, acquiring and constructing Northampton Township Municipal Park, improving athletic fields and courts, expanding recreational programming and building partnerships that created more opportunities for residents while remaining mindful of taxpayer dollars.
Rose said Wade understood that parks were about much more than buildings and ball fields.
"He knew they were more than playgrounds and ball fields," Rose said. "They were places where children would take their first swing at a baseball, where teammates would become lifelong friends, where grandparents would watch their grandchildren play, and where families would gather to create memories that would last a lifetime."
Beyond the physical improvements, Rose said Wade dedicated countless hours to coaching youth sports, mentoring young people, serving as a Boy Scout leader and supporting local organizations.
"He believed that sports were never just about winning games," Rose said. "They were about teaching teamwork, perseverance, respect, responsibility and character."
One story, Rose said, perfectly illustrated Wade's character.
After learning about a local family whose home needed modifications after a family member became disabled, Wade secured grant funding, enlisted support from his engineering firm and organized volunteers to renovate the house, making it fully ADA accessible.
Rather than completing the project himself, Wade invited the teenage soccer players he coached to work alongside the volunteers.
"They learned how to build ramps, widen doorways and make a home accessible," Rose said. "But more importantly, they learned compassion. They learned that when someone is struggling, you don't wait for somebody else to help. You become the person who helps."
Rose said Wade transformed a construction project into "a lesson in humanity."
"That is Marty Wade," he said. "He doesn't just build parks. He builds communities. He builds character. He builds people."
Calling Wade's impact impossible to measure, Rose thanked him for decades of leadership and service.
"Thank you for making Northampton Township a better place to live, work and raise a family," Rose said. "Marty, your legacy is visible in every child playing on our fields, every family enjoying our parks, every volunteer inspired by your example and every life touched by your generosity."
Accepting the honor, Wade repeatedly shifted the focus away from himself and toward the people who supported him throughout his life and decades of community service, thanking members of the Board of Supervisors, elected officials, business partners, longtime friends and fellow volunteers.
Among those he recognized was former Township Supervisor George Komelasky, who persuaded him to join the Parks and Recreation Board nearly four decades ago.
"He didn't just ask me," Wade said with a smile. "He badgered me into joining the Parks and Rec Board 37 years ago."
As he reflected on his life, Wade became emotional while speaking about his wife, Gail.
"Gail and I have been together since Sept. 10, 1967," he said. "We've been together 59 years, 56 married. Gail is the love of my life and the kindest, smartest, caring person I know.
Reflecting on why he and Gail chose Northampton Township as their home, Wade said they were searching for more than a place to live.
"Gail and I were looking for our forever community in 1982," he said. "We wanted open land, a good setting. We wanted to be able to walk to places."
They found exactly what they were looking for in Northampton Township.
"We found that forever community in Northampton Township," Wade said. "We raised our children, participated in the community and enjoyed our life."
Wade acknowledged his three sons, three daughter-in-laws, four grandsons and his granddaughter, all seated in the audience to support him during his special moment.
Following his remarks, representatives from several levels of government honored Wade for his decades of service.
Alex Mauro, representing U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, presented Wade with an American flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of his contributions to Northampton Township.
State Sen. Frank Farry presented Wade with a Pennsylvania State Senate citation honoring both his military service and volunteer leadership, praising the lasting impact he has had on generations of township families through parks, recreation and youth athletics.
State Rep. Kristin Marcell also presented citations from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Rep. Joe Hogan, thanking Wade for helping make Northampton Township's recreation system one of the community's greatest assets.
During one of its most memorable moments of the evening Wade's five grandchildren stood beside Rose to unveil the bronze plaque that will permanently bear his name on the Wall of Honor at the Municipal Park.
"This honor is not simply a recognition of what you've done," Rose said during the ceremony. "It's a celebration of who you are."
MORE: Northampton Township Concert Series keeps summer tradition alive
