Obituaries

John Anthony Nunez died on February 24 in Castle Rock, Colorado. He was 72 years old.

Mr. Nunez was born in Glen Ridge and raised in Livingston. He graduated from Livingston High School in 1969. He attended Saint Leo University, St. Leo, Florida, graduating in 1973.

Mr. Nunez was the business owner of retail wine and spirits stores in West Caldwell and Chatham.

He was a husband of 18 years to his wife Linda, who survives him. He was a father to three daughters, Jill Nunez (Dross), Lauren Nunez, and Jaclyn Nunez. He had two granddaughters and is survived by his brother, Henry J. Nunez, Jr.

A funeral service will be held at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 28 Livingston Avenue in Roseland on Saturday, March 11, at 11:15 a.m. Interment is private. Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours at Wm. A. Bradley and Son Funeral Home, 345 Main Street in Chatham on Friday, March 10, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Dorothea Ann Fast died at her home in Livingston on February 23 after an extended period of ill health. She was 94.

She was born on January 13, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Fast and her husband, Sheldon, relocated from Ithaca, New York to East Orange, New Jersey. The two raised a family in Livingston beginning in 1954.

She is survived by her sons, Lawrence, Donald and Thomas; and many grandchildren.

Those interested in learning more information may call J.L. Apter Memorial Chapels of Roseland at 973-940-1300.

David B. Blake of Morris Plains died on Monday, February 27, at the age of 85.

Mr. Blake is survived by his wife, Jill; his daughter, Caroline Blake; his three sisters, Barbara Ann Wass, Doris Lasher and Arlene O’Connor; his grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Blake’s career began with the Livingston Board of Education in 1976 before continuing his career at Morris Hills Regional, Bogota and Elmwood Park.

Visitation was held at the Doyle Funeral Home, Morristown, on Friday, March 3. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Assumption Parish, Morristown, on March 4.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Seton Hall Prep, c/o Michael Gallo, 120 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052.

Robert (“Bob”) S. Kurz died at his home on January 28. He was 101.

Kurz was married to his wife Lorraine for 72 years before her death in 2019. Kurz leaves behind three sons Steven (Helen), Mitch (Sandy), Don (Noelle Toland), three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Born in the Bronx, Kurz served during World War II in the Army Air Forces, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant while serving in the Pacific Theater. He began his professional life as a jazz drummer.

He held a sales executive position at Ramsey’s Pezrow Corp., where he eventually rose to vice chairman, before retiring after over 30 years of work.

Kurz played tennis until the COVID-19 pandemic forced a retirement at age 98.

Robert F. Munson of Livingston passed away on Monday, February 27 at age 55.

Munson joined the Livingston Fire Department in 1988. He was a fire photographer, active in New Jersey Fire News and in many Essex County Fire Departments.

He is predeceased by his parents, Frank and Linda. Munson is survived by his life partner and loving fiancé, Maureen McNany; his sons Patrick, Ryan and Tyler; and Maureen’s children, Peter, Madison and Brendan; his sister, Laura Munson; nephew, CJ; and dog, Buster.

He is also survived by his extended family, including the Smith family and his many firefighter brothers and sisters.

A memorial visitation will be held at Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, 145 E. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, on Sunday, March 5, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a prayer service to start at 5 p.m.

Danielle Lee Meeker passed away with the Lord on February 1, 2023, at Morristown Medical Center, following a long illness.

Born in Livingston on August 30, 1973, she was the loving daughter of Linda L. Meeker and Timothy W. Meeker; the sister of Timothy P. Meeker; and aunt to Frank W. Meeker. Danielle also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, and cousins, along with countless friends.

Danielle was a dedicated employee of Memorial Sloan Kettering. Her life was family, friends, volunteering, and Otter Lake Campground.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Livingston PBA 263; the Livingston Fire Department; the Livingston FirstAid Squad; or your favorite charity.

No memorial arrangements have been planned at this time.

Barry Wiener, 85, died at home on January 30.

Born and raised in Trenton, he has lived in Livingston for the past 50 years. After graduating from Rider University in 1959, Mr. Wiener joined the U.S. Army and became the company clerk as a corporal. He then went on to work in business management and became a regional manager for Channel Lumber.

Mr. Wiener was the husband of Rosie for over 58 years and father of Dori (Chuck) Hamill, as well as his late son, Michael. He was a member of Temple Beth Shalom and the Temple Beth Shalom Men’s Club, a former member of the West Orange Knights of Pythias, and a member of the ZBT fraternity.

A funeral service was held on February 2 at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel in Livingston. Following the funeral service, burial was held at Workers of Truth Cemetery in Hamilton.

Phyllis Nevins Johnstone died on January 31 at the age of 73.

Upon graduation from Livingston High school in 1968, Mrs. Johnstone went on to pursue a nursing degree at MCC and then worked at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center for several years in the medical surgical unit.

Afterward,Mrs.Johnstoneworked as a risk management representative in medical malpractice, spending over 25 years at Princeton Insurance Company. She then worked at Everest Insurance Company and Summit Medical Group.

Mrs. Johnstone was the mother of two children, Kaitlin Caldwell Johnstone and Irvine B. Johnstone IV. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Irvine B. Johnstone III.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggested that donations be made to the Husky House https://www. huskyhouse.org/ in Mrs. Johnstone’s name. Mrs. Johnstone will be laid to rest at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.

Peter C. Ibsen, Sr., 95 years old, of Morristown died on February 11.

Mr. Ibsen was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Livingston, New Jersey, before eventually moving to West Caldwell.

He was a member of the Essex Fells Country Club for 68 years, and had been a long-time member and supporter of the Montclair YMCA for over 70 years, serving on their Board of Directors.

Mr. Ibsen enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951, serving during the Korean War and was stationed at Kessler Air Force Base as an electronics instructor and training and operations counselor. In 1955, he joined his father in business at Peter Ibsen, Inc. located in Montclair and Cedar Grove, retiring in 2000.

Mr. Ibsen was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Briggs in 2016. Surviving is his son, Peter Ibsen, Jr.; his daughter, Tracey Ibsen-Lasser; and grandchildren.

Elizabeth Mellea (née Bellasalma) died on January 26 at age 88 in Reno, Nevada.

She was born in Newark on January 16, 1935 and was a daughter, greatgrandmother of four, and mother who formerly lived in Livingston.

Mrs. Mellea spent 35 years as both a medical and auto claims adjuster for the Travelers Insurance Company. In addition to living in Livingston, she had lived in Morris Plains and Rockaway, and for the last eight years, she lived in Danville, California and Reno, Nevada with her daughter.

Mrs. Mellea is survived by her children, Robert (Nancy); Samuel (Terri); and Sandra Kimmins (Jon); her siblings, Jerry Bellasalma and Robert Bellasalma (Carole); and six grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Samuel; her daughter, Denise Cupoli, who died in 2003; and her brothers, Tony Bellasalma, Sam Bellasalma, and Dominick Bellasalma.