Debra Camorata (née Calascione), who died on December 16 at the age of 67, was well-known for her service to the town through her more than 25 years working at Hammonton Town Hall, where she served as a clerk and court administrator, her obituary said.
According to her obituary, the role was “well-suited to her personal and professional skill sets.”
Municipal government honored Camorata by placing a crepe over the front doors to town hall in the days following her death. A moment of silence was also held in her honor at the beginning of the December 21 regular meeting of town council. Camorata’s dealings with the public were handled level-headedly and with a smile. She treated people with respect, and as a result was well-respected.
Hammonton Joint Municipal Court Judge Frank Raso reflected on Camorata’s life in comments he sent to The Gazette on December 28:
“I always considered myself the lucky one for having known Debbie both personally and professionally. We first met in 1969 at one of the dances in the St. Joe gym. Debbie went to Hammonton High and I attended St. Joe and we would see each other once a week on Saturday night. We would dance the night away and nobody, but nobody, could dance the Bristol Stomp like Debbie. We became instant friends and continued our friendship well beyond graduating from high school. Debbie and I were always there for each other, especially during difficult times like when our dads passed away.
“We renewed our friendship when I graduated law school and would appear in the Hammonton Municipal Court where Debbie was the Deputy Court Administrator. When I was given the opportunity to become the Municipal Court Judge in 1998, I reorganized the court and appointed Debbie the Municipal Court Administrator. What impressed me about Debbie was her strong sense of justice. Things were either black or white, right or wrong, and there was no in between situational gray area. At one time, Debbie and I calculated that we sat together on the bench for over 1,250 court sessions, not including special criminal or driving while under the influence trials.
“Debbie was a strong individual and overcame so many life obstacles. Her faith in herself, her family, her friends and her Creator were, and still are, an inspiration to all of us. We lost a good friend when Debbie unexpectedly passed away. Like others, I will miss Debbie dearly,” Raso wrote.