Obituaries

Sylvia Pressman Cherna, a longtime active member of the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, died April 20, age 95.

She is survived by her children, Marc, Jeffrey and his wife Mindy, and David and his wife Shari; her brother, Howard Pressman, and his wife Marlene; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family has suggested memorial donations to the Suburban Torah Center, Doctors Without Borders, or Yad Eliezer.

Joseph N. Battista, 56, of Livingston, died on Tuesday, April 20, in Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

Born in Orange to the late Armondo and Lucille (née Cortellacci) Battista, the family moved to Livingston in 1967.

Mr. Battista was the co-owner and project manager of BMC Construction, LLC in Orange. He was also a nightclub DJ for the last 40 years under the name “DJ Joey B,” and a rock and roll band drummer, known as “Joe Zep.”

He was the partner of Gwen Motley and the brother of Samuel J. Battista and his wife, Libby; Michael M. Battista and his companion, Jeanie; Raymond A. Battista and his wife, Susan; and Lisa A. Battista.

The Mass of Christian Burial was offered and livestreamed on Monday, April 26, by Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Roseland, and was followed by burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions to the American Cancer Society may be made.

Joshua Aaron Gendel, a long-time resident of Livingston, died on April 30 at home.

Born on May 11, 1999, Mr. Gendel is survived by his parents, Erica and Steven, and his grandparents, Ellen Gendel, and Marilyn and Robert Hilowitz. He was predeceased by his grandfather, Paul Gendel, He will also be missed by his service dog, Goldie.

In lieu of food or flowers, the family requests that donations in Joshua’s memory be made to The Friendship Circle ( https://wecare.lifetown.com/ campaigns/Joshua/), or to Temple B’nai Abraham (https://tbanj.org/).

Services are private, with arrangements by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel.

To place your classified advertisement in the West Essex Tribune, call 973-992-1771 by noon Tuesday.

Salvatore Costanza, age 54, of Livingston, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 30, 2021. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church, Livingston, on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Entombment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, New Jersey. The family received their friends at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston on Tuesday May 4, 2021.

Salvatore was a business agent for Local 68 in West Caldwell, New Jersey, for the last 19 years. He was a graduate of New Jersey Institute of Technology with a B.S. in architecture.

Salvatore was predeceased by his dear mother, Concetta Costanza. He is survived by his beloved wife, Maria Cristina Patino; his loving daughter, Christina E. Costanza; his dear father Vincenzo Costanza; his loving brother, Joseph, and his wife Denise Costanza; and his cherished nieces, Brianna, Isabella, and Melissa. Salvatore is also survived by many loving cousins and friends.

Arthur Phillip Davidson, 86, died April 27.

He grew up in Hillside and attended Florida Southern University. A military veteran of the Korean War, he raised his family in Livingston, and owned businesses in Newark.

Mr. Davidson was the husband of Lynda; the father of Rick and the late Jeffrey; and the father-in-law of Mary Beth Davidson, Nancy Stearns and Donna Davidson. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The telephone was the first public utility in Livingston. The first two phones were installed in 1905, one in Amos W. Harrison’s general store and post office.

Nicholas Huth, a former resident of Livingston, died on April 22 after a battle with cancer. He was 85 years old.

old. Born in Manhattan and raised in Clifton, Mr. Huth lived in Livingston and Stamford, Connecticut before moving to Manasquan 24 years ago.

moving to Manasquan 24 years ago. Mr. Huth graduated from Clifton High School in 1953 and from the Newark College of Engineering (now NJIT) in 1957 with a degree in chemical engineering. He was active in varsity sports and in Pi Kappa Phi.

Commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Air Force, Mr. Huth served as a navigator in the Strategic Air Command for three years. He worked in sales at IBM for 37 years and then as a consultant.

Mr. Huth was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Mary (Harte); his sister Margie Mahoney; and his companion, Sue Warnick.

On April 15, 2021, Rupert “Rup” Rieger lost his battle with Stage 4 COPD in Arizona at the age of 60.

Born and raised in West Orange, New Jersey, he attended St. Joseph’s School and then West Orange High School.

As the son of Meinrad “Jo,” they ran M.J. Rieger and Son Painting and Decorating. Rupert also followed in his father’s love of snow skiing. The family belonged to the German Ski Club of New York. At the age of 16, Rupert became the Men’s Club Champion. Together, they skied the Northeast, the Rockies and even the Alps.

Rupert was predeceased by his parents, Meinrad and Elsie (Spindler). He leaves behind two sisters, Elsie Dunn of Camp Verde, Arizona, and Margie Rieger of Livingston, New Jersey. He cherished his daughter, Diane Mejia and his son, Rupert, Jr. Both reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was the grandfather to both a granddaughter and a grandson. He had moved to Las Vegas in 1994 and later resided in Camp Verde, Arizona.

Kathleen Joyce Anderson, a 1984 graduate of Livingston High School, died on April 22 at her home in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The daughter of Walter and Dorothy Joyce of Livingston, Kathy was a stand-out Lancer athlete, who was later inducted into the Big L Hall of Fame. She was 54.

Kathy was married to John Anderson for the past 30 years, and they raised their four children in Livingston and Avon-by-the-Sea, before recently moving to Asbury Park. She is survived by her husband and children, John and his wife Michaella of Fairbanks, Alaska; daughter Kaitlyn of Boston; Sean, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and Ryan, a student at Stockton State College. She found special joy and pride in watching their exploits in lacrosse, field hockey, bowling and baseball and successes in college and careers.

Richard William Mance, 82, of Selbyville, Delaware, passed away Sunday, April 18, at home with his loving wife by his side. He was born in Irvington, New Jersey to Albert Patrick Mance and Lillian Hirschman Mance.

Mr. Mance was raised in St. Joseph’s Orphanage for some of his childhood. He graduated from Irvington Technical School. He was in the Army National Guard; was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, and Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council #3533. He was a parishioner of St. Philomena’s Roman Catholic Church in Livingston, New Jersey, and St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church of Ocean City, Maryland.

Mr. Mance lived in Livingston, New Jersey for 41 years to raise his family before retiring to Delaware. He enjoyed fishing and while retired, working at the OC Lifesaving Museum, but most of all, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Rose (née Palumbo) Cicalese, 81, of Livingston, died on Thursday, April 15.

A Mass was held at St. Philomena Church in Livingston, on Tuesday, April 20, followed by interment at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Montclair.

Born and raised in Newark, Mrs. Cicalese lived in West Orange for many years before moving to Livingston. She was employed by Automatic Switch for several years.

Mrs. Cicalese was predeceased by her husband, Orlando “Sonny” Cicalese, and her brother-in-law, Andrew Palumbo.

Surviving are her daughters, Rosanne Drechsel and her husband, Doug, and Michele Cicalese; six grandchildren; and her sister, Joney Pannullo.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 (www.stjude.org) would be appreciated.

Condolences may be sent on www. ippolitofuneralhomes.com.