Honoring Renee Skelton: A Legacy That Lives in Our Library

Renee Skelton - Beloved Perth Amboy Resident

PERTH AMBOY, NJ — The announcement that the Perth Amboy Free Public Library has been awarded a $750,000 grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust Fund marks a proud milestone for our city. It represents years of dedication, teamwork, and shared belief in the power of this library to serve as both a guardian of our past and a bridge to our future.

Yet as I reflect on this moment, my thoughts are with someone who is not here to celebrate with us, Renee Olivia Skelton, a lifelong Perth Amboy resident whose vision and persistence made this achievement possible.

Renee passed away on October 21, 2025, at the age of 70. She devoted much of her life to preserving the history, culture, and natural beauty of the city she loved. A proud graduate of Perth Amboy High School, she went on to earn degrees in History and Geography from Syracuse University and Journalism from New York University. Her professional journey took her from the Children’s Television Workshop, home of Sesame Street, to the Natural Resources Defense Council, where she wrote about environmental issues long before they were part of the national dialogue.

Despite all she accomplished professionally, Renee’s heart never left Perth Amboy. She served as Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, Vice-President of the Proprietary House Association, and was an active member of the Green Team. Her words even grace the plaque in City Council Chambers honoring Thomas Mundy Peterson, the first Black man to vote under the 15th Amendment, a reminder of her deep respect for history and justice.

I first saw Renee’s influence up close at the Library Board of Trustees meeting on November 9, 2021, the very first meeting after the board had been reconstituted following the pandemic. During the public session, Renee spoke with warmth and conviction about what the library meant to her. She called it her ‘second home,’ remembering the hours she spent studying for exams, uncovering her love of history, and exploring the stories of the city she cherished so deeply.”

That evening, Renee urged the newly appointed Library Board to authorize the Perth Amboy Historic Preservation Commission to submit the application to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Her passion moved everyone in the room. The Board voted unanimously to support her recommendation, a decision that set in motion the process that ultimately led to our library’s official historic designation in November 2024. That designation, in turn, made us eligible for the grant we are celebrating today.

This milestone is not just about funding or restoration. It is about what can happen when residents, trustees, staff, and city officials work together toward a common goal. It reflects the best of Perth Amboy, a city built on collaboration, pride, and love for community.

As we prepare to begin our long-awaited renovations, I am filled with gratitude for everyone who played a role, past and present. But above all, I am thinking of Renee. Her spirit continues to guide us, reminding me every day that when a community unites around something it believes in, the past and future can truly come together under one roof.

Joel Rosa
Library Director, Perth Amboy Free Public Library