Obituaries

Jeffrey Alan Cohen, 78, died on Monday, May 25, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he lived in Livingston for over 45 years.

Mr. Cohen was a graduate of Georgetown University and received his MBA from the University of Michigan. He was a franchise owner of Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, which he co-owned for over 40 years.

He was the husband of the late Marsha Cohen for 50 years; the father of Jamie Kirschner (Eric) and Robyn Lozier (Mike); the grandfather of four; and the brother of Neal Cohen (Janet).

Mr. Cohen will be buried privately by his family at B’nai Abraham Memorial Park, Union.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/PFFTribute/JeffCohen).

Bernice Stein (née Braverman), formerly Bernice Schnell, of Livingston, New Jersey, died on May 25, 2020, on her birthday, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

Bernice was a devoted mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and loyal friend. In addition to a distinguished teaching and legal career, Bernice was a competitive bridge player, avid theatre goer, book club enthusiast, world traveler, advanced puzzler, accomplished knitter, unabashed chocoholic, a generous supporter of the arts, and a fierce defender of the underdog and underserved.

Bernice was born in Newark, attended Hillside High School, Rutgers College (Phi Beta Kappa), and Rutgers Law School. She married Richard (Dick) Schnell in 1957, with whom she had two sons, David and Gordon. Richard died in 1971. She married the Hon. Kenneth R. Stein in 1974, who died in 2018.

Irwin Hoffer, formerly of Livingston, died on April 16. He also resided in Cedar Grove and Boynton Beach, Florida.

Born in Jersey City, he graduated from the New York University School of Business and served in the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Hoffer founded Hudson Quilting Company and later served as vice president of operations for Channel Home Centers. He was a past president of Congregation Beth Ahm of Verona.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Barbara (“Cookie”); his son, Larry (Janet); his daughter, Marcy (Robby) Berkowitz; a sister, Edie Dickes of Boca Raton, Florida; a brother, David of Deerfield Beach, Florida; and five grandchildren.

Private services were held April 20. Memorial contributions may be made to B’nai Shalom, West Orange, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Henry Joseph Traverso died on April 19, at the age of 90, at his home in Livingston.

He was born in West New York to Margaret Lindsay and Angelo Traverso, and grew up in Union City.

He designed, repaired and built machines for more than 50 years.

Mr. Traverso is survived by his wife of 66 years, Laura Ekeson, and five of his seven children. He was the grandfather of 12 and the great-grandfather of five, and was predeceased by his daughters, Lori Ann and Karen Killary, and his sister, Margaret.

Mr. Traverso was an assistant Cub Scout leader, a Knights of Columbus member, and an usher at St. Philomena’s Church.

No public services have been scheduled; arrangements are under the direction of Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home.

Former Livingston resident Barbara Elizabeth Fitzsimmons died in Madison on Sunday, May 17.

She was born in 1935 in Jersey City to Alvin and Agnes Somers, and graduated from Saint Dominic’s Academy and Caldwell College. After earning two master’s degrees in education from Seton Hall University, Mrs. Fitzsimmons taught at Summit Middle School and later was a professor of English and writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison.

Mrs. Fitzsimmons was the author of a book for St. Philomena’s Church and wrote grants for learning disabled students. She founded Heart Beat, a women’s volunteer group for the Archdiocese of Newark, and received the highest honor at Caldwell University, the Veritas Award, after serving on its board of trustees for many years.

Glen Ridge police officer and former Livingston resident Charles Edward Roberts III, 45, of Glen Ridge, died May 11 of complications related to COVID-19. He was 45 years old.

Officer Roberts grew up in Livingston and, after graduating from Livingston High School in 1992, worked at DuBrow’s Garden Center. Mr. Roberts served the Glen Ridge Police Department for 20 years, starting in 2000 as a dispatcher. He was currently the most senior patrol officer in the department and had been a DARE/LEAD officer, a Special Olympics torch run participant, and a bicycle officer.

Officer Roberts is survived by his wife, Alice (née Baker) and three children, Shea, 15, Natalie, 12, and Gavin, ten. Also surviving are his parents, Dotty and “Ned” (Charles Edward Roberts Jr.) of Waretown; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Elizabeth and Paul Baker of Glen Ridge; his sister, Kara Brennan of Millington; and his former brother-in-law, Christian Brennan of Gillette.

Doris (Pat) Reinhardt (née Fitzpatrick) passed away May 10, 2020 at home. She was 94.

Pat was born and raised in East Orange, New Jersey. She married William (Bud) Reinhardt and moved to Livingston, where they raised their four children. She worked for the Livingston school system until her retirement in 2007.

Every year, Pat looked forward to the opening of the Northland Pool in Livingston, where she worked as the gatekeeper for more than 30 years.

Pat was predeceased by her husband, William L. Reinhardt; two sons, Laurance and William L. Reinhardt; her daughter-in-law, Marlyn Reinhardt; and her granddaughter, Lauren Reinhardt.

She leaves behind her loving children, Nancy Schmaler and her husband, Ray; and Bruce Reinhardt and his wife, Susan. Her cherished granddaughters, Kelley, Jamie, Jennifer, Suzanne and Melissa. She also leaves behind her two cherished great-granddaughters, Blake and Brooke.

Robert C. Stewart, 65, of Orange, New Jersey, passed away from COVID-19 on Friday, May 15, 2020.

Born in Livingston, New Jersey, he was the son of the late George C. Stewart, Jr. and the late Theresa M. (Rafferty) Stewart.

He was a graduate of Livingston High School, class of 1973, and enjoyed fishing, playing the guitar, and laughter. He worked as a land surveyor with his father and had many jobs over the years. One of his favorites was working at a health food store in Montclair, New Jersey. He was a life-long music lover, and had the opportunity to spend a year on the road working for a rock and roll band.

Carolyn N. Gottlieb (nee Newman) passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at Mattison Crossing at Manalapan Avenue, Freehold. She was 92.

Born in Manhattan, New York, she resided in Livingston for nearly 40 years before relocating to Monroe Township, and then Freehold, 20 years ago.

Carolyn was a congregant of Temple Emanu-El during her time in Livingston and then Temple Shaari Emeth in Manalapan.

She is predeceased by her husband, Elias, in October 2009, and her sister, Francine Newman.

Surviving are her children, Robert and his wife, Margo Rosenbach, of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; Nancy Gottlieb of Angola, Africa; and Doris Gottlieb of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, all formerly of Livingston; and two grandchildren, Dana and Hannah.

Her warmth, kindness and cookies will be sorely missed by her friends and family.

Thomas W. Cooney, “Poppy,” 86, of Livingston, New Jersey, passed away on May 16, 2020, at home.

Born June 7, 1933, he was predeceased by his parents, Patrick and Marion Cooney (née Sullivan); and his brothers, Robert, Raymond, James, and Patrick. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Diane J. Cooney (née Stafford); his sons, Thomas and his wife, Cathy, of Livingston; Daniel and his wife, Robin, of Oldwick, New Jersey; and Darren of Califon, New Jersey; his brother, Edward and his wife, Gloria, of Livingston; his sisters, Marilyn Cimino of Old Bridge, New Jersey, and Delores Wilson of Springfield, New Jersey; his beloved grandchildren, Thomas, Haley, Megan, Sydney, and Ryan; and a large extended family and many friends.