On August 27, 2015, Coach Bob Cece passed peacefully from this world from natural causes while at his home. A lifelong resident of Livingston, Bob played varsity football and baseball before graduating from LHS in 1966. In 1970, as a graduate of Montclair State, where he served as the president of Tau Lambda Beta, Bob began his lifelong dedication to the Livingston school system and its student athletes. Bob taught Industrial Arts and Technology for 36 years before health issues forced him to retire. During his entire teaching tenure and continuing until his death, Bob has coached Livingston students, starting with boys' soccer at Heritage Middle School and boys' lacrosse at LHS. He was then named assistant softball coach at Heritage Middle School, and head girls' volleyball coach at LHS from 1985-1997, where in his second year of coaching the Lancer team began its “winning season” streak, which is still ongoing. Bob was a CAP Level II coach with an article, "Designing Volleyball Drills," published in Coaching Volleyball Magazine. In addition, he had earned a USA referee badge. Since 1998, when serious back injuries and multiple sclerosis left him disabled, Bob has served as volunteer assistant girls' volleyball coach and volunteer assistant boys' volleyball coach at LHS. Between 2004 and 2011, Bob was the recipient of five state and regional "Coach of the Year" awards, and in 2013 was inducted into the LHS Hall of Fame. Together with his dear friend, Head Coach Al Partelow, they amassed this impressive record: two state Girls' Championships 2004 and 2011, three state sectional girls' titles, five Essex County titles, and at least ten Conference titles. They were named State co-coaches of the year in 2004 by the Star-Ledger and also named county co-coaches twice. For the boys' program, they have won one state sectional title, six Essex County Titles, and eight conference titles. Together, they have over 300+ boys’ wins and 300+ girls' wins The seventh of eight children born to Alphonse and Jennie Cece, Bob was predeceased by both of his parents and is survived by his seven heartbroken siblings, John and Mary Cece, James Cece and Carol DeAngelis, Jane and Herb Briscoe, Antoinette “Toni” and Michael Koenig, Dorothy Cece LaPosa, Al and Barbara Cece, William and Vickie Cece, 20 nieces and nephews, many grandnieces and grandnephews, and scores of excellent volleyball players. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home,
