Gloucester City: Dr. Vitola School Physician since 1988

Note from Bill: I contacted Dr. Vitola on Monday via email about the possibility that he may not be reappointed to the job of school physician for the district of Gloucester City.

Photo:  Dr. Vitola, right with  Dr Walter Poprycz at a GHS football game.

This is his response.

 Hi Bill,

As I mentioned, a classmate from GHS, class of '69 brought this to my attention on Friday afternoon, April 11, 2008.I was totally unaware that the superintendent was planning not to re-appoint me as school physician, for what reason, I have no idea.

To answer your questions, I have had the honor and privilege of being a Gloucester City school physician since 1988.When I started, replacing Dr. Kelly, Dr. Brennan became senior school physician. Doctor Brennan advised me to attend the home football games to assist and aid any injuries on the field. I have attended every home football game and a few away games for the past twenty football seasons.

I consider myself part of the football team staff and I am proud to be associated with Lions Football. The coaches and players have a lot of heart and drive and are proud to represent Gloucester City, and they appreciate my presence.

Along with attending the home games, the team and I have had the added benefit of my friend, Dr. Walter Poprycz, M.D., an orthopedic specialist in sports medicine who attended the home games with me for the enjoyment of the game.

Thanks for your interest.

Sincerely,

Carl

 

Comments

[Grover]

I don't know but they do all of George Norcross's bidding.

Hey, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Parker and McCay still do all of Gloucester city's bonding? To whomever thinks that I am Kim or Kathy....thanks for the compliment!

[Grover]

BOE Insider; Are you saying that Dr. Hyman's and Brennan's Office wasn't contacted by Mr. Spaventa and asked to take over so that drug screens will be closer to the schools (gloucester as opposed to Turnersville)? Are you sure? Cause thats not what a real insider told me...and I'm not talking about a BOE insider. But one of the Docs. Maybe what you meant is that you'll back down now that some residents started protesting.

[Dr Vitola Supporter]

Rick I would have to agree to not have Parker & McCay doing business taking our tax dollars in REAL BIG CHECK$.

I for one will take someone who is not as educated making decisions for the School Board, Council etc. as long as they have Common Sense, which some highly educated people just don't have that trait. Common sense and decisions made by the school board usually don't make the same sentence, however Darrow, Hagan & Marks show me that they all have "Common Sense!" and that's what we need, and their common sense tells them that they are all working for the school board to make sure that our children are educated the best we can & keeping our property taxes in check the best that they can.

Dr. Vitola Supporter

Coxe Fans
No one wants the uneducated making education decisions. Also no one wants Pay To Play. That is what Parker & McCay are all about. Likewise Mr. Coxe is a product of the Camden County Democrat Machine. Left to his own devices he will head straight to the people he is used to working with. After all, in politics one hand washes the other. If he washes Parker & McCay's hand later they will wash his when he runs for election. It's called Pay To Play.

Let's hear Mr. Coxe speak out to justify the change. How will it benefit me and the rest of the city taxpayers. Remember Maley was working for Parker & McCay as our city solicitor. We reduced the city legal fees by more than 90% when we dumped Maley.
Taxpayer

Kim or Kathy your getting annoying. Yes, Ray is well educated but the BOE and the mayor and council are going to have to start shared services and he is the wrong person given his experience with the new mayor and council to be leading the BOE. And Louisa, is a nice woman but she cannot take confrontation. I hope Mr. Darrow, Hagan, and Marks will contiune to speak out issues such as the Dr. Vitola want and listen to the taxpayers.

[Curious]

Hey Bill,
Will you be able to obtain and post the educational background of each member on the B.O.E.; since the question has been raised? Just curious to see the background of each member, I think the public has a right to know.

[Lou]

Ray Coxe does seem to be a young and possibly aspiring politician. I say, Good for you,Ray! Someone, recently on this site said, the BOE would be better if it had some "educated" people on it. Well, I know Mr. Coxe has a Masters' Degree. Mrs. Llewelyn is also very well educated. Heck, she taught many of you or like me, our children. She doesn't sit back on her well-deserved laurels; she is out in the city as an active and giving member of the community.

I think others on the BOE are well educated as well, at least, some have completed some post graduate work. Why wouldn't Gloucester City want a inspired, young man who is well educated working in whatever way he can to better this city. He may not be able to widen any streets, but possibly, he may be able to broaden your very narrow minds. It seems easy to sit back and point fingers rather than getting up and getting involved!

Mr. Coxe is a young aspiring machine politician. This position is one of the stepping stones in his political career. He will do whatever it takes to engratiate himself with the machine. If we tolerate actions like the proposed transition to Parker & McCay we are greasing the path to bankruptcy.

Would like to know why the BOE is going to bring on Parker & McCay.
What has Mr. Wood done so wrong to warrant his being let go. What
problems have you had with him? As far as I have heard none. So why
bring in a firm that sole money from us when they represented us
before. It does not make sense. Oh wait yes it does. Mr. Coxe is going
to be president and he wants Parker & McCay because just like bobby and
his father and co. they like watching the people of Gloucester get
ripped off.

BOE insider
I find your timing interesting. If you knew all along that the story about Dr. Vitola was nothing but a rumor why did you wait until the poll showed such an overwhelming support for the good doctor to open your mouth?

I heard two rumors about two weeks before Mr. Cleary posted anything about Dr. Vitola. The first was about Dr. Vitola. The second was that Parker McCay was to replace the Woods group. As such a well informed individual I would like to have you set the record straight about the second rumor.

As for your accusation that Mr. Cleary started the rumor, I'll chalk it up to you being less than the best judge of horse flesh. I hope I don't have to wait for your response to the second rumor.

OBSERVER

[BOE insider]

This goes out to the person who started this rumor. Dr. Vitola is NOT leaving as school doctor, it all was a rumor made by someone who likes to start gossip in town and tries to rip us (taxpayers) apart instead of bringing us together. My guess would be Mr. Cleary himself.

[lou]

This goes out to the person who is afraid to sign their name and afraid to use punctuation!
There has been no decision as far as anyone knows about Dr. Vitola. Why don't you read the stats about the school system...we have one of the best in the state. Not bad for a 2 square mile small town....and an Abbott District, too.
Let's not be hasty. Come out to the BOE meeting this week and support them instead of trying to tear them down. All that does is make you and others like you look very small, mean and uninformed.

[Jason Chiodi]

Dr. Vitola has not just been a physician appointed by the BOE for the past 20 years, he has been a member of the GHS Family. It is a disgrace that the members of the BOE, who were elected to represent the people of Gloucester would dismiss him for no reason. It is wrong when these people have their own agenda's, rather than what's in the best interest of the students. In my many years of knowing Dr. Vitola, I've come to think of him more than just the team doctor. He is my own family physician, a friend, a fan, and someone that has been embraced by the town of Gloucester. To not renew him is a great loss to this community. Gloucester is known for sticking together and protecting our own... Dr. Vitola is one of our own!

[Cut Red Tape]

Hey Bill,
Can you post the E-mail address and/or phone # of the Superintendent and any School Board Members so they can all hear our concerns, I mean besides going to a school board meeting, we can all speak volumes by calling and e-mailing our concerns to the new superintendent & school board members so they can make an informed decision how the majority of the public feels about this or any subject. Well at least the majority that would take the time to call or e-mail.

It maybe a great subject to post a Poll:
Do you think the Superintendent or School Board is making a fair or right decision replacing such a Great Person like Carl Vitola?

[Deb]

You people must be stupid to get rid of Vitola as the school Dr. Something is wrong with anyone who thinks he should be replaced!! Is the new Dr. related to someone on the inside or something?! (I wouldn't doubt something like that for a second!!) Because, what basis at all do they even have to do something so ridiculous, that is obviously not and will never be, supported by ANY Gloucester residents!! WE ALL WANT DR. VITOLA AND THAT IS IT!!! News flash to the Dr. that, might be put into that position, you are going to have a lot of people with hard feelings towards you, and no one is going to give you a break in the least bit!! Because you're not Dr. Vitola!! (and you never will be, nor can you be!!!)
Dr. Vitola is as much a part of Gloucester, and Gloucester High, as the lion is a part of Gloucester, as being our mascot!! So, taking away Dr. Vitola, is like taking away the lion from our school!!! While you are all at it, you know making decisions about our school, our town, and our feelings, without any of us supporting you or your stupidities, why don't you swap the lion with an donkey or something! Might as well make more BIG changes while your at it, right?! Just go with whatever you guys want, whatever seems better to you guys, whatever you guys want to happen, we all just have to go with it, I guess, right??!!! So, yeah, maybe you should change the mascot, from a lion to a donkey, anyway, for yourselves, you are all a bunch of jack asses so your mascot should be the donkey!!!
We'll leave the lion mascot with Dr. Vitola, because him and the people that support him are the ones that are covered by the lion!! You people do not deserve the lion, you jack asses deserve the donkey!!! KEEP VITOLA OR GO TO A DIFFERENT TOWN ALTOGETHER AND CHANGE THEIR SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THE CHANGE, NOR DO WE NEED IT, WELL LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED, HOW ABOUT THAT??!!!
Good Luck Dr. Vitola, I hope you never, ever go anywhere, but to our, like I said, OUR SCHOOL!!!!

Dear J,
Its not the city its the school board which will soon be run by Ray Coxe. Think of those lovely meetings between James and Coxe, I doubt they will happen. I guess the quality of education will continue to go down in the city. I mean besides, Bob Bennet is on the school board.

[J]

Dr. Vitola has been a staple of this community and of the football team for as long as most any of us could remember. Gloucester City is in his blood and he has been there not only for our children but for our families as well over the years. I find it to be an insult that there is discussion about no reappointing him without even as much as having discussions with him concerning this. Maybe the City should review how much they are OVERpaying the superintendent and look at what an asset they have in carl Vitola.

[Tim Tedesco]

I remember on a few occasions that Doc Vitola was there. As a player I dislocated my shoulder more than once, he was there to put it back in and give my mother a wink. she was beside herself but with him there she knew I would be okay. If the contract is not renewed the high school will loose a hidden gem. Another loss by the town.

Keep Doctor Vitola!

[A GHS Football Fan]

Darn right he's a part of the team staff. In the fall of 1989 when Lions won the Tri-County Championship for the 1st time. Doc Vitola recieved a championship jacket along with coaches and players. That alone speaks volumes of how much he means to GHS Football. He's an asset to GHS and to Gloucester City itself.

[KenMac]

Yo Doc,
You have my support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!