In an age of curated images and calculated political gestures, it is rare to be offered a completely unvarnished look at a person’s character. For one Westfield official, that moment came not from a stump speech or a campaign ad, but from a forgotten telephone line.
Charles “C.J.” Gelinas, a Harvard-educated lawyer, former partner at the world’s largest law firm, and a current member of the Westfield Board of Education, was in the middle of a telephone interview when his focus shifted.
Through his window, he spotted his 87-year-old neighbor, Theresa “Terry” Gonnella, struggling with her groceries.
“I’ll have to call you back in five minutes,” Gelinas told the reporter from NJ Today, before setting his phone down to help.
What he didn’t do was hang up.
For the next several minutes, the open line served as an unintentional broadcast of a pure, good deed. With no audience to perform for and no possibility of political gain, Gelinas was heard simply helping a neighbor, in a heartwarming exchange reminiscent of a Scout performing his daily good turn.
“It was a brief, candid observation of an elected official in a pure interaction,” the reporter would later note. The moment provided a telling glimpse into the man behind the impressive resume.
That resume is formidable. A Classics graduate from Dartmouth and a Harvard Law School alum, Gelinas rose to become a partner in Dentons’ Capital Markets practice, where his pro bono work earned him a 2013 award for helping secure $100 million in financing for cleaner energy in New York City.
He has also taught law as an Adjunct Professor and describes himself, first and foremost, as a “Dad of two amazing, curious, kind girls.”
It is this blend of high-powered acumen and grounded compassion that he has brought to his service in Westfield.
When he ran for the Board of Education in 2023, he emphasized a two-fold mission: supporting student well-being and social-emotional growth, and applying his financial expertise to responsible budget development.
“Our children’s educational experience gives me confidence that the Westfield Public School system effectively prepares students for a fast-paced, ever-changing future,” Gelinas shared at the time.
His most recent public service chapter concluded with a significant, and somewhat controversial, recommendation.
As chair of the New Jersey Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents, appointed by Governor Phil Murphy, Gelinas helped author a landmark report calling for “bell-to-bell” phone bans in schools.
“You’re at lunch. You’re at the library. You’re playing sports. This is a time to socialize,” Gelinas argued, forcefully maintaining the position despite concerns from some parents who want children to have access in case of emergency.
Gelinas believes putting down the phone is a policy crucial for helping students develop the in-person social skills needed to navigate the world.
With his term on the Board of Education ending in 2026 and his work on the social media commission complete, Gelinas is not seeking re-election but he is ready for a new challenge.
But for those who witnessed the unintended phone call incident, his next step seems almost secondary. The moment offered a powerful testament to his intrinsic character.
It was a reminder that behind the titles of lawyer, professor, and commissioner, there is a man who, when he sees a neighbor in need, doesn’t hesitate to hang up on a reporter and lend a hand.
For his neighbor Terry Gonnella, and for the community that got to eavesdrop on a moment of unassuming kindness, that may be the most important qualification of all.