Meltzer, Joan

Joan Meltzer was a longtime Englewood, New Jersey civic leader and Democratic politician who made history in the late 1970s. In 1979, she was elected to represent Englewood’s Second Ward, becoming the first Democrat to hold that seat. A Bryn Mawr College graduate, Meltzer was widely known for her strong communication skills and her emphasis on listening to constituents across the ward’s diverse population. Before holding elected office, she worked in public service and civic organizations, including serving as personnel training director for the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders. She was also deeply involved in local volunteer and advocacy efforts, particularly through the Englewood League of Women Voters and the county’s Community Action Program. As a councilwoman, Meltzer focused on balancing development, community needs, and fiscal responsibility, and she was recognized as part of a growing cohort of women reshaping local government in Englewood. 

Bergen Record, November 12, 1979

Gannett

1979

Rightsholder Being Researched