Obituaries

Roger J. Fitzsimmons, 91, of Little Silver died on Friday, April 7.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Mr. Fitzsimmons and his wife, Patricia, settled in Livingston, where he started a career in banking. He worked in the trust division at the Howard Savings Bank in Newark, and the Union County Trust Company in Elizabeth. In 1966, he moved on to Monmouth County National Bank in Red Bank, which is now Wells Fargo, where he was senior vice president.

He was a long time member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey Shore. He was past president of the Red Bank Rotary, theRootBeerandCheckerClub, and the Notre Dame Club of the Jersey Shore. He also served on the board of MCOSS, the Red Bank YMCA, and the local Chamber of Commerce.

Harold J. McCornac, 88, of Livingston, died on Wednesday,April 12.

Mr. McCornac grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. He met his wife, Susan in Dalton, M.A. They settled in Livingston in 1965.

He was predeceased by his wife, Susan Callahan McCornac. He is survived by his children: Michael (Debbie) McCornac, Lauren (Paul) Stephen and Carolyn McCornac; and his six grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Philomena Church, Livingston on Tuesday, April 18.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover at www.NJShelter.org.

Kenneth Salvatore Lordi died on Sunday, April 16. He was 77.

Mr. Lordi grew up in Livingston and graduated from Livingston High School. He served as a Marine before entering Rutgers University.

After his discharge from military service, Mr. Lordi met and married Kathleen (nèe D’Alessio) and had two daughters, Donna and Christina Lordi. The couple raised their children in Livingston.

Mr. Lordi served as the president of the Aquinas Academy PTA for many years and was an active member and volunteer at St. Philomena Church.

A funeral service will be held today, April 20, at 10 a.m. at St. Philomena Church.

Elayne “Lyn” Ruth Charney, passed away peacefully on April 14 at age 87.

Aresident of Livingston for over 60 years until her passing, she was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and her family moved to Bloomfield when she was age seven. She graduated from Bloomfield High School and attended Newark Teachers College.

While living in Bloomfield she met her husband of 67 years, Marvin Charney, and they remained happily married in a close and caring relationship.

She served on the Board and as treasurer of both the Women’s Club of Temple Emanuel of Livingston and the National Council of Jewish Women, and volunteered with the Livingston National Little League Women’s Auxiliary and the Harrison School PTA.

Ivan Tommy Strande, 62, of East Hanover, died on Sunday, April 9.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he grew up in Livingston, and settled in East Hanover. For over ten years, he was a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. He was a microbiologist for many pharmaceutical companies throughout his career.

Mr. Strande was predeceased by his parents, Kjell and Esther Strande.

He is survived by his sons, Erik K. Strande (Kristina) and Jason Strande; brother, Kjell E. Strande; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services were held privately under the direction of Shook-Farmer Funeral Home, Roseland, shookfarmer.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations in his memory to the Cancer Research Institute, cancerresearch.org.

Richard “Rick” Meeker passed away on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. He was 73 years old.

Rick was born in Livingston and remained there his entire life. He was very proud of his family history, especially being a member of one of the founding families of the town. He was always ready to tell a historic family story to anyone who would listen.

After working for the Verizon company for 40 years, he retired in 2010. He devoted his retirement years to helping others both in his family and his community.

He volunteered at St. Barnabas Hospital and the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter. He was a board member for the Livingston Historical Society for many years.

He could be seen hanging the American flag on the Force Homestead for all holidays. He also servedon the Livingston Bicentennial Committee from 2012 to 2013.

He loved helping all ofhis neighbors and friends. No job was ever too big for Rick.

Catherine Marie “Minnie” Frances Flynn passed away peacefully on March 18, 2023 after celebrating her last St. Patrick’s Day. She was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on May 1, 1924 to Catherine and Joseph McGuirl.

Cathy was predeceased by her loving husband, Vincent; her son, Thomas Michael; and her brother, Joseph. She is survived by her son, Vincent and wife, Louise Flynn; daughter, Kathy and husband, Armand Halter; and daughter-in-law, Cathy Flynn. Cathy will live on in the hearts of her grandchildren Kevin, Brian, Vincent, Katie, Erin, Emma, and Bridget and three greatgrandchildren, Madison, Parker, and Arthur.

Henry Branch died on Saturday, April 8. He was 93.

Mr. Branch was a Holocaust survivor and went on to become an American businessman and community leader. He was born in Lodz, Poland where he lived with his parents until the Holocaust began. After losing his mother during the war, Henry and his father survived many of the concentration camps and were liberated from Auschwitz.

After the war, he came to the United States to finish his education and serve in the U.S. Army in Military Intelligence during the Korean War. He went on to found Hendon pools and several other businesses.

He also was a founding member of Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston, New Jersey, where he was a congregant for more than 60 years. After retirement, Henry provided his consultative services to local business owners.

He had represented the United States in an educational, cultural and humanitarian exchange with China for the organization People to People.

Louise Nakashian died on Saturday, April 8, at the age of 90.

Born in Arlington, Massachusetts to Genevieve and Jacob Avakian, she moved to New Jersey in 1959 and married John Nakashian. They resided in Livingston before moving to Union to raise their family. She resided in Morris Plains for several years and most recently with her daughter in Scotch Plains.

Mrs. Nakashian was a longtime parishioner of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Livingston, where she served as secretary for many years.

Mrs. Nakashian is predeceased by her husband, John Nakashian. She will be remembered by her sons, John Nakashian and Scott Nakashian and his wife, Sara; and her daughter, Alyssa and her partner Richard Dicosta. She had five grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She is also predeceased by her sisters, Alice Hovsepian and her husband, Raymond; Irene Slater and her husband, Gordon; and brother, LeoAvakian and his wife, BettyAnn.

Joseph A. Drago, 88, of Livingston, New Jersey died on Tuesday, April 4.

Born in Alia, Sicily; Mr. Drago resided in Livingston for 53 years, where he established his family and business within his community. He owned and operated Drago & Sons Landscaping for 30 years.

Mr. Drago is survived by his wife of 58 years, Domenica; as well as his son, Tom, and his wife Laura; daughter, Anna; daughter-in-law and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Joseph.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Philomena Church, Livingston, on Tuesday, April 11. Interment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery East Hanover. The family received friends at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home 145 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue on Monday, April 10.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to a fundraiser, The Glioblastoma Foundation. https:// fundraise.glioblastomafoundation. org/joedrago.