If you’ve spent any time around the Hub City, you know the name. But honestly, most people only know the surface-level stuff. They know the name from a ballot or a sign at the Surrogate’s office. The reality is that Kevin Hoagland New Brunswick is a story about what happens when a regular guy from Jersey gets dealt a hand that would break most people, and instead of folding, he decides to rebuild the whole table.
It started in 1978. Kevin was 18. Just a kid, really. He broke his neck in an accident at home, and just like that, everything changed. He was wheelchair-bound. But if you think that slowed him down, you haven't been paying attention.
Why Kevin Hoagland New Brunswick Matters More Than You Think
When Kevin came home from five months of rehab, he realized something pretty messed up. He was lucky. His parents could afford to put an addition on the house. They could buy a van with a lift. But he’d seen guys in rehab who literally couldn't go home because their families couldn't afford a ramp or a wider doorway. That sat wrong with him.
He didn't just complain about it. In 1987, way before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was even a thing, he started the Central Jersey Spinal Cord Association (CJSCA).
No paid employees. Just volunteers.
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Basically, he’s spent the last few decades raising millions of dollars to fund research and, more importantly, to help people buy the adaptive equipment they need to actually live their lives. We're talking house modifications and specialized vehicles. It’s the kind of hands-on help that doesn't always make the evening news but changes a family's entire world.
The Man Who Revolutionized the Surrogate's Office
Most people think of the Surrogate’s office as this dusty, bureaucratic corner of the government where wills go to die. Kevin Hoagland changed that perception during his 28-year run as the Middlesex County Surrogate. He wasn't some distant official. He was the guy opening 11 satellite offices so people wouldn't have to trek all the way to New Brunswick just to handle their business.
He also started the county's National Adoption Day in 2007.
Think about that. The same office that handles the sadness of probate and wills became a place that celebrated families coming together. By the time he retired in 2020, he had overseen thousands of adoptions. He made the process human.
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A Legacy That Isn't Just Politics
Look, in New Jersey, politics can feel like a game. But for Hoagland, it always felt more like a mission. He followed in his father’s footsteps—his dad was a councilman and freeholder—but he carved out a path that was uniquely his. He served as the chairman of the Mayor’s Committee for a Barrier-Free New Brunswick. He worked on the Human Relations Commission.
He’s a 7th-generation New Brunswick native. That kind of deep-rooted connection is rare these days.
When he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2017 as an "Unsung Hero," he was standing there with people like Meryl Streep and Bruce Springsteen. He was stunned. He didn't even know he was nominated until two weeks before. That’s just who he is—doing the work because it needs doing, not for the trophy.
What Most People Get Wrong
People assume that because he was a public official for so long, his impact was limited to policy. It wasn't. It was personal. Whether it was his "Don't give up, don't ever give up" mantra or the $2 million-plus he helped raise for spinal cord research, the impact was felt in the living rooms of families across Central Jersey.
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His retirement in 2020 marked the end of an era, but his influence is still all over the city. His son, Kevin Jr., carries on the family tradition of service as a teacher in the New Brunswick school system.
Honestly, the Kevin Hoagland New Brunswick legacy isn't about the titles. It’s about the fact that if you’re a person with a disability in Middlesex County today, your life is probably a little bit easier because of things Kevin fought for thirty years ago.
How to Support the Mission Today
If you’re looking for ways to actually do something with this information, here’s the deal. The Central Jersey Spinal Cord Association is still out there. They still need support.
- Check out the CJSCA: They are a 501(c)(3) and they operate out of a PO Box in New Brunswick. Every dollar goes toward research or helping someone get the equipment they need.
- Advocate for Accessibility: Kevin was doing this before the law required it. You can keep that energy going by speaking up about barrier-free access in your own neighborhood.
- Learn About Probate: If you live in Middlesex County, use the resources Kevin digitized. The Surrogate’s office has booklets and programs he started specifically to make legal hurdles less scary for regular people.
Kevin Hoagland didn't just hold an office; he built a support system for an entire community. That's the real story.