Pasek, Cepha

Cepha Pasek devoted more than three decades to youth and family services in Englewood, New Jersey, becoming one of the central figures in the city’s Community House and Social Service Federation during the mid-twentieth century. Born in Wisconsin, Pasek graduated from college in 1932 at the height of the Great Depression. Unable at first to secure a teaching position, she turned to community work—an experience that shaped the direction of her life. After early service with youth organizations and a New York boys’ club, she was hired in 1943 as a group worker at what was then Memorial House in Englewood. Trained in social work and deeply committed to hands-on engagement, she built her career around direct work with children and teenagers rather than classroom instruction. In the postwar years, Pasek emerged as a leader within the Social Service Federation, helping expand programming for young people and families. She played a significant role in launching initiatives such as homemaker services, family counseling programs, and youth chaperone activities—efforts that later developed into independent community agencies. She also helped guide the creation of the Leonard Johnson Day Nursery and oversaw the development and growth of the Englewood Community House facility itself. Pasek’s influence extended beyond the city. She directed Camp Englewood, supervising staff and shaping summer programming that served large numbers of local children. Her leadership emphasized participation and responsibility: teenagers were encouraged to plan activities, resolve conflicts, and take ownership of their community. Colleagues and former campers recalled her ability to step into tense situations, mediate disputes, and foster cooperation without heavy-handed authority. After 31 years with the organization—including nine years as executive director—Pasek retired in 1974. In interviews at the time, she reflected that administrative work had gradually replaced the personal contact she valued most. What she cherished, she said, were the moments when young people discovered confidence or direction—often in ways not immediately visible. Her career was marked by steady, practical service rather than public acclaim, yet her long tenure left a lasting imprint on generations of Englewood families. A retirement dinner in her honor celebrated her decades of dedication to the city’s youth. By the time she stepped down, Pasek had become synonymous with Community House itself—an advocate for young people whose work helped shape Englewood’s social and recreational life across three transformative decades.

Lovett Gray, “Center Loses Director,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), July 10, 1974, 8.

“Director Leaving Community House,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), August 16, 1974, 7.

“Testimonial for Miss Pasek,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 19, 1974, 6.

“9 Counselors to Direct Work of 100 Girls,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 20, 1952, 31.

“Counselors Announced for Camp Englewood,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 8, 1950, 25.