A hand up for the Pellowski family

Hi, my name is Nick LaPlaca and I am the son-in-law of Michael and Judith Pellowski, a fixed income couple on the border of Hillsborough and Manville, NJ.

Mike and Judy have been married for 50-years and have raised their four children (Morgan, Matt, Melanie and Martin) at their Dukes Parkway home over the last 35-years. Their home was recently flooded in the worst of the four "hundred-year storms" to flood their home in the past 25-years. Their home was not in a flood zone when it was purchased and has now been ravaged by the worst-storm-yet.

With about 2.5-feet of storm water on their first floor that entered late Wednesday night and did not recede until Friday morning, much of their home is a loss. Michael and his son Martin took refuge with his dog Ranger on the top floor and watched as the storm water rolled in, overtook their home and flooded their yard, driveway and car.

As anyone who has experienced this type of loss might know, the worst part are the things you can't replace. Old war letters shared between your parents and kept safe for 75-years. Pictures of your young family that were not taken with a digital camera and can't be recovered. Heirlooms that connected you to the past and that you hoped to be passed down to your children and grand-children. These things we collect become more than they were ever intended to be and their loss permeates even the loss of your home.

Though these recent events and losses are tragic, Mike, Judy and the Pellowski family have never let tragedy define them and have done their best to make sense of the senseless. The funds received here will be used to help the currently displaced Mike, Judy, Martin and Ranger to begin to rebuild their lives and their home.

Locals might recognize their house from Mike's clever signs inviting comic book fans and collectors to his porch-side comic store where he can be found most summer weekend days trading, selling and chatting about comic books, classic movies and American history.

Mike has been an author for over forty-five years and has published numerous children's books including the "Double Trouble Twins" stories for young girls, joke books, sports books and what he is probably best-known for his comic book work for Marvel, D.C., Charlton and Archie.

Mike was a former Rutgers Football Captain and still-current holder of the single-game sack record for Rutgers Football. He was recently inducted into the Franklin High School Hall of Fame for his incredible sports career. Mike also hosted a kids show (Fun Stop) and a high school football show for Hillsborough High School.

Judy would be recognized by many in the community as a valued and long-time associate at Babys-R-Us before her forced retirement when the company declared bankruptcy. She has also probably directed many of you to the correct aisle in the Manville WalMart, despite never having actually worked there (we are pretty sure she has a doppelgänger that does). Judy spends her retirement with her grandchildren Skyeler, Loukas and Logan.

Their son Martin, a talented youth sports action-photographer and full-time dog-dad lives with them at their Dukes Parkway home and is also displaced. He frequently donates his time and photography skills to help shelter animals.

Their daughter Melanie (my wife) is a local TV Production Teacher for South Hunterdon High School and formerly held the same position at Hopewell Valley Central High School. Mike, Judy, Martin and Ranger are currently staying with us at our home along with our son Logan and our dog Buckaroo.

Their son Matt and his wife Anastasia own a production company and are heavily involved in the youth sports scene in Old Bridge with their daughter Skyeler and son Loukas.

Their son Morgan was an aspiring playwright, actor and puppeteer. His play "Petty Theft" was the first student-produced play at his school RVCC. Many of your children likely played at the children's park dedicated to his memory at Colonial Park.