Virginia “Ginny” Dodd Hook

May 29, 1924 — December 23, 2022

In the summer of 2024, The Friends of Delaware Township proudly dedicated a bench on the Sergeantsville Green in memory of Virginia “Ginny” Hook, a trailblazer, community leader, and cherished neighbor. Ginny, who passed away at the age of 98 in December 2022, left a lasting legacy through her decades of service and dedication to Delaware Township. As the first woman to serve on the Township Committee and as Mayor, as well as the first woman president of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, she opened doors for future generations while tirelessly supporting her community through countless civic and charitable efforts. Her energy, optimism, and generosity touched the lives of many, and the bench stands as a lasting tribute to her extraordinary contributions and enduring spirit.

Virginia Dodd Hook “Ginny” passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Rolling Hills Care Center in Lebanon, NJ on Friday, December 23, 2022. She was 98 years old.

Ginny was born and grew up in the “Dodd Town,” section of East Orange NJ where her Dodd family ancestors settled in the late 1600s qualifying her for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. She attended Centenary College in Hackettstown NJ where she remained active in alumni activities throughout her life. Following Centenary, Ginny married Nicholas Hook a musician and singer also from East Orange. The couple had two sons, Jeffrey and Gregory, but later divorced. Ginny persevered, raising her two sons through the good times and bad times as single mothers do.

Starting out adult life as an elementary school teacher, Ginny always had a passion for art and enjoyed painting nature scenes which she sold at craft fairs around the state.

In 1971, Ginny relocated to Sergeantsville NJ where her energy and “can do” approach to life really blossomed. She became an active member of the Sergeantsville United Methodist Church and was a founder of the Sergeantsville “Thanksgiving in the Country” house tour raising funds for the facial reconstruction unit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

While engaged in real estate sales in Hunterdon County, Ginny caught the “political bug” successfully running for town council in Delaware Township multiple times, becoming the first woman council member in 1978 and eventually serving as the Township Mayor in 1980 and 1989, a position that elevated her as the first woman president of the New Jersey League of Municipalities. She dedicated considerable time, money and energy to volunteer activities serving on many state and local boards and committees.

Ginny was an eternal optimist. She loved life and enjoyed a long and good one, fulfilling many objectives she set herself to that might have seemed challenging for a woman of her era and background. She is survived by the members of her loving family and her many, many dear friends and acquaintances. She will be deeply missed.