Get ready to celebrate some spectacular individuals whose passion and impact make Roxbury shine at Roxbury Library Foundation’s “Starry Night” Gala on Wednesday, November 12 from 6-9pm at The Meadow Wood in Randolph. Now in its fifth year, the beloved “Starry Night” Gala raises funds to help expand and reimagine the library for generations to come.
The Gala will offer guests an elegant evening of fine-dining, a celebration of revered community leaders, and a deep appreciation for Roxbury Public Library’s role in our beloved Roxbury. In addition, it’ll highlight how the library needs everyone’s financial support to achieve its vision of an expanded, renovated library.
Businesses and individuals are invited to support the gala via sponsorship, with levels ranging from $10,000 to $1,000; sponsors receive a variety of benefits, including tickets to the event. Sponsors who commit by August 15 will also be featured in the Gala Tent at Olde Suckasunny Day on September 6th. Ads in the program journal can promote businesses or congratulate honorees, and range from $500 to $250. And beginning September 6th, tickets will go on sale for $135.
Thank you for your consideration and support, and we hope to see you at what promises to be a memorable community event.
Nancy Knight is a respected business leader, community advocate, and proud matriarch whose life is grounded in professional excellence, civic engagement, and a deep love for family. As Co-Owner of Knight’s Automotive Repair, Inc. in Ledgewood, New Jersey, Nancy has helped build the family-run shop into a trusted local institution since its founding in 1996. Under her leadership, the business became a AAA-Approved Auto Repair Facility and earned several accolades, including AAA’s “Shop of the Year” and the Roxbury Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Person of the Year.” Before launching the business, Nancy served as Food Service Manager for Service America at Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, gaining valuable experience in leadership and operations. Her strengths in marketing, financial planning, and hands-on management have fueled long-term business success.
Nancy’s dedication extends far beyond the workplace. A longtime leader in the Roxbury Area Chamber of Commerce, she has served as President, Vice President, and continues to contribute as an Executive Board member. She is deeply involved in local events and programs, including Wheels to Prosper, which donates repaired vehicles to deserving residents. Nancy is also a steadfast supporter of the Roxbury Arts Alliance, local sports, youth programs, and community events. A graduate of Montclair State University with a degree in Foods and Nutrition, Nancy is most proud of her role as a mother and grandmother. She and her husband Peyton raised four children, all pursuing meaningful careers and carrying forward the family’s legacy of hard work, integrity, and service.
Peyton Knight is a seasoned automotive professional with over 40 years of experience, known for his technical expertise, entrepreneurial drive, and deep commitment to community and family. His career began in banking at First National State Bank in Succasunna, NJ, before shifting into the automotive world with a Shell Station in Denville, NJ, operated with his brother. In 1984, he took over his own Shell Station in Succasunna, where his dedication to service earned him numerous honors, including Shell’s prestigious Circle of Excellence Award. In 1996, Peyton and his wife Nancy launched Knight’s Automotive Repair in Ledgewood, NJ. The business quickly established a reputation for quality and reliability, becoming a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility in 1997 and earning multiple AAA Shop of the Year awards. In 2001, they purchased the shop’s location, anchoring their investment in the Roxbury community. Peyton’s impact extends beyond business.
Peyton has served as president and vice president of the Roxbury Kiwanis Club and volunteered as a youth soccer and baseball coach. For over a decade, he also shared his expertise and wit as a weekly guest on the Auto Lab Radio Show from CBS studios in Manhattan. A graduate of County College of Morris and former soccer team member, Peyton credits his early sports experience for shaping his leadership style. He and Nancy are the proud parents of four accomplished children, and the family continues to grow their business while upholding values of integrity, service, and community involvement.
Justin Knight is an experienced automotive professional and the manager of Knight's Automotive Repair in Ledgewood, New Jersey. A proud graduate of Suffolk University, Justin not only earned his degree with distinction but also played for the Suffolk University baseball team, demonstrating a strong commitment to teamwork, discipline, and performance—both on the field and off. Justin also completed the 2024 Boston Marathon with his wife, while running for Team Pardus under Team END ALZ in memory of his late grandfather and his wife’s grandmother who both succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. As a member of Team Pardus, he and other family and friends raised over $200,000 over two years for Team END ALZ. Team Pardus was recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association in June of 2025 for their fundraising efforts.
In addition to his academic and athletic achievements, Justin holds multiple ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certifications, underscoring his technical proficiency and dedication to industry standards. These credentials, paired with his leadership at Knight's Automotive, reflect a deep-rooted passion for automotive repair and customer service excellence. Through his role at Knight's Automotive Repair, Justin continues to uphold a tradition of quality, honesty, and community-focused service, driving both operational success and customer satisfaction. With a deep appreciation for both the mechanical and managerial sides of the business, Justin is committed to maintaining the highest standards of service and fostering a work environment rooted in integrity, efficiency, and innovation.
Carl Wronko is a proud veteran, longtime Roxbury resident, and dedicated attorney whose life has been shaped by service—to his country, community, and family. A 1967 Rutgers University graduate, Carl began law school at Seton Hall before pausing his education to join the U.S. Army. He completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, and served in Vietnam as an Armored Cavalry Platoon Leader with the First Armored Cavalry Regiment, earning a Bronze Star with “V” device for valor. While stationed in Vietnam, he met Christine, an Army nurse who would become his wife of 52 years.
Carl earned his law degree from Seton Hall in 1973 and began practicing in Succasunna in 1975. He moved to Roxbury’s Berkshire Valley in 1978, where he and Christine raised their two children, Matthew and Amy. Actively involved in his children’s lives, Carl coached multiple teams and helped establish the girls soccer program through the local soccer club.
A devout member of St. Therese Church, Carl offered pro bono legal counsel, taught CCD classes, and is active in the Knights of Columbus. He served as a Trustee of Roxbury Public Library and a member of the Roxbury Rotary Club. In 1994, Carl was appointed Municipal Court Judge in Roxbury, serving 21 years. He established a high school clerkship program, mentored future attorneys, and supported local students through programs and moot court judging. A passionate advocate for veterans, Carl continues to support fellow service members. Now semi-retired, Carl practices law with his son Matthew and contributes local history interviews to the township’s online newspaper.
The Ron DeFilippis Community Service Award honors the legacy of Roxbury Library Foundation’s Founding Treasurer Ron DeFilippis. It celebrates individuals and organizations who embody compassion, generosity and unwavering dedication, actively working to improve our community and inspiring others along the way.
The library's ability to meet the needs of Roxbury is constrained by the limitations of a facility that has not seen an expansion in 30 years. Space is needed to house expanded collections, to accommodate demand for library programs, and meet the space needs of the community. The library is ideally positioned to provide public space. It favors no political or religious beliefs. It welcomes all cultures, races, genders, incomes, ages, abilities, and identities...and access is always free.
To offer financial support to the mission of the Roxbury Public Library, encouraging gifts, endowments and memorials to The Roxbury Public Library Foundation, Inc to expand and maintain the library building and its infrastructure.
The Foundation was formed and certified by the State of New Jersey on July 2nd, 2021 with the goal of expanding fundraising capabilities that would enable a future expansion of the library facility.
TAX ID: 87-1715943
The Foundation is designated a 501(3)c organization.
Roxbury Library Foundation, Inc
103 Main St
Succasunna, NJ 07876
The Roxbury Library Foundation Board of Directors consists of:
