Judy O’Gorman Alvarez oversaw the paper’s features sections for nearly two decades
By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
RED BANK – Judy O’Gorman Alvarez has been making headlines at The Two River Times for the past 25 years – along with feature articles, captions and, on good days, making sense of it all. Rising from humble stringer to features editor, the position she retired from in February, Alvarez has also witnessed historic events and significant changes through four editors, three publishers, four owners and a “cavalcade of talented writers, designers, sales reps and interns.” And she did it all while working part time – at least in theory.
The ebb and flow of news during her tenure included the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster, Super Storm Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Early on, Alvarez was assigned human-interest stories that tugged at the heartstrings. That experience, and her empathetic nature, served the TRT and its readers well when tough times hit.
“I was writing for the paper about a year when 9/11 happened,” Alvarez recalled. “Writing profiles on the people we lost was heartbreaking, but it was a privilege to write about their lives. Then came the recovery stories. It was uplifting to report on the people, businesses and restaurateurs who stepped up to help.”
The challenges of documenting news across 14 diverse Monmouth County towns were ever-present and ever-changing.
“After Super Storm Sandy, we put out the paper from the publisher’s home utilizing a generator until power was restored,” Alvarez said. “During the pandemic, when the world shut down around us, we had to keep churning out the newspaper every week. Advertisers lost business so we had fewer ads. We worked from home, held Zoom meetings, and conducted interviews via phone. ‘Pivot’ became the most overused word. Everyone had to pivot. The payoff was telling the stories of how our community was getting through it.”
It wasn’t all bad news, though. In July 2021, The Two River Times broke the news of Netflix’s desire to build an East Coast production hub on the former Fort Monmouth, four months before the company confirmed those plans. Sources later said the paper “earned” the exclusive for its “unwavering dedication to ongoing consistent coverage of the fort’s redevelopment.”
“We cover the protest marches, town meetings, building developments, and philanthropic galas,” Alvarez said. “We are at the high school football games, the local theaters, and the zoning board presentations. We celebrate readers’ achievements, share business news, honor our neighbors, and highlight local heroes.”
Environmental concerns, especially involving the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers and the coast, have been a critical aspect of TRT coverage since its inception, she noted.
“Because a healthy shore is a crucial part of Two River-area life, we shine a light on groups working to protect it,” Alvarez said. “I am confident the TRT will continue focusing on news about our waters, beach replenishment, offshore windmills, oyster bed restoration and beach cleanups.”
With her inimitable blend of quiet wisdom, sage guidance and literary talent, Alvarez helped shepherd the paper through each issue’s publication, no matter what. Her co-workers praised her unfailing support and encouragement – and were grateful for it. They also benefited from her institutional knowledge of past articles, newsmakers, stakeholders and “characters – good and bad” – along with what worked and what didn’t along the way.
Alvarez and the TRT’s other features editor, Elizabeth Wulfhorst (who remains in that role), were pressed into covering hard news when news editor Christina Johnson left in early 2020, right as the pandemic was starting. Alvarez and Wulfhorst continued in that “temporary” position until Patricia McDaniel was named news editor last year.
“We joke that few people really retire from The Two River Times,” Alvarez said.
“Through it all, this incredible team has put out a remarkable product each week; something to be very proud of.”
Writing is Second Nature
Always drawn to writing, the Brooklyn native crafted a newsletter for the neighborhood kids at age 11 and wrote essays and plays. After high school, she moved from secretarial work to a degree in journalism and communications from New York University, eventually becoming a corporate communications editor, writing newsletters, annual reports and more. That segued into a freelance career in magazines and newspapers, augmented by 10 years as a tutor for Literacy Volunteers.
She married Manuel Alvarez, a now-retired corporate attorney, and the pair moved to Middletown, introduced to the area by friends. While raising daughters Julia, 34, and Kathleen, 31, Judy joined the PTA, wrote parish newsletters, did publicity for nonprofits and volunteered.
“Because I could write, I was able to help people get their message across,” she said. That led to more freelance work with local publications, including the Middletown Independent. In 2000, she answered an ad for a stringer at The Two River Times under then-publisher Geraldo Rivera. Her resume landed in the hands of former editor Eileen Moon, whose mother’s maiden name was also O’Gorman. Soon, Alvarez was covering four towns for the paper’s popular Town Journal section. Her most rewarding articles, she said, were those heralding nonprofits that received donations based on her reporting.
“We’ve always had quality reporters and writers who follow through on issues beyond the initial headlines, delivering details not found elsewhere,” Alvarez said. “Readers say they depend on us for factual, relevant, reliable news.”
She said she is especially grateful to current owner Domenic DiPiero and the paper’s “small but incredible team that has always been there for me and had my back.”
Reader loyalty and feedback have been constant sources of education – and sometimes amusement – for the new grandmother.
“We have fascinating people in our community who experienced tragic losses but managed to do good by sharing their message, busy volunteers who still find time to help others, people with inspirational stories,” Alvarez said. “Subscribers are as far away as Hawaii. Former area residents keep up with our local news from Florida and elsewhere. When our readers call, whether it’s to change their address, report they haven’t received their paper, or that the crossword puzzle was erroneously repeated, we ask what they like about the TRT. It’s gratifying to learn they genuinely appreciate the local news we provide. We’ve made errors, as all news organizations do, but we’ve also been honored for excellence with accolades from individuals, newsmakers, organizations and our media peers.”
Now in its 36th year, and its second as a nonprofit, The Two River Times’ fifth “owner” is the community.
“In our new role as a nonprofit and community partner, we will continue to engage and expand coverage of issues crucial to our area and its inhabitants,” Alvarez said.
Fortunately, her byline may still grace an occasional feature within these pages when she’s not traveling, enjoying family time and exploring other writing genres along with life sans deadlines.
The article originally appeared in the March 26 – April 1, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
