community news from Livingston

A man who most recently served as a volunteer coach for Livingston High School athletics this past fall, Steven Brooks, has been charged with criminal offenses related to child pornography, according to an update sent out Tuesday afternoonby Livingston Public Schools superintendent Matthew Block.

According to a press release from the United States Attorney General’s office and other reports, Brooks, 34, of Morristown, was employed as a fifth grade teacher in the Summit school district, and helped run the Livingston Soccer Club. According to a press release, acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig said he has been charged in connection with production, possession of, and mailing of child pornography.

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REST IN PEACE: Shown here, bunting hangs on Town Hall in honor of the late Chuck Tahaney, the former township manager after whom the building was named. The American flag is also flying at half mast. For more about Tahaney and his impact on Livingston, read our editorial on page A-4 of this issue of the Tribune. MI Photo

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Leonard “Lenny” Del Vento, formerly of Livingston, died on Wednesday, February 10, a week after his wife of 45 years, Maria, died.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Lucy’s Church in Newark today, Thursday, February 18, at 9:30 a.m. Entombment will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park in Union. Guests are reminded to observe COVID-19 precautions. Arrangements are by the Galante Funeral Home in Union.

Mr. Del Vento grew up in Orange and lived in Livingston and East Hanover. He was a lifelong member ofthe International Longshoremen’s Association for 43 years, where he worked as the head foreman stevedore at Maher Terminal.

Mr. Del Vento is survived by his daughter; Erika Ann Del Vento; his brother, Aldo Del Vento, and his sisters, Renita and Carla Del Vento.

Maria Del Vento, who was raised in Livingston, died on Wednesday, February 3.

Born in Newark to John Fiumara and Minette Fiumara (née Grasso), she was as a pharmacy technician for 20 years and most recently lived in East Hanover and Toms River.

She is survived by her daughter, Erika Ann Del Vento; her brother Joseph Giannetta; and her sister, Theresa Capasso. Her husband, Leonard, died a week after she did.

Funeral services were private, in the care ofthe Galante Funeral Home in Caldwell. A memorial gathering celebrating her life will be held at a later date.

FRESHMAN LADY LANCERS LOSE TO BENGALS: The Livingston High School girls’ freshman basketball team was defeated by the Bloomfield Bengals, 33-29, in the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center on Saturday morning. February 13. Shown here, Lancer guard Alexa Kay, #14, beats the Bengal defender to score for Livingston. Don Schwartz Photo

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CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY: Construction of the new Camuso storage barn began with digging post holes for the footings, shown above. “Big shout out to Scoot, Jimmy, Paul E., Hugh, and Mike Stolfi,” said “Chief Elf” Tom Cooney. “We had Celtic Tree Service use a Bobcat to remove the ‘Blizzard’ last Friday so we could get to work.” Below, earlier this week, the storage barn had begun to take shape. TC and MI Photos

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Sister Barbara Jeanne Howard, SSJ, passed away on February 9, 2021, at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown, Pennsylvania, after a lengthy illness.

Sister Barbara had been a resident at the Villa for several years after leaving her position as director of the Sharing Office at St. Philomena’s Parish, Livingston, New Jersey, where she had been for 25 years.

Born in Elizabeth to her loving parents, George and Genevieve Howard onAugust 6,1934, Barbara was big sister to her brother Ronald, who passed away in 2019. She attended St. Joseph the Carpenter School and Holy Family Academy. After graduating, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in September, 1952.

Sister Barbara taught in elementary schools in the Philadelphia area; Washington, D.C.; Maryland; and New Jersey. She continued her education at Kutztown University, earning a master’s degree in math education.

Perhaps the phrase “the passing of an era” has been overused in the past; but, the loss of former township manager Charles (Chuck) J. Tahaney, this week certainly qualifies as the passing of an era.

Chuck, who was born and raised in Livingston, was only the second municipal manager in the town’s history. His family lived in the converted barracks on Berkeley Place, behind the old house that then served as the Township Hall. He was a of Livingston’s public schools before earning a bachelor of science degree in English with a minor in education from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City. He later earned a master of business administration degree from Seton Hall University. He was certified to teach secondary school and, although he never became a school teacher, that background was evident in the calm and personal way he ran the Township of Livingston.

Charles (Chuck) Tahaney, Jr., a third generation favorite son of Livingston, passed away quietly on February 10, 2021, with his wife by his side.

Chuck was born in 1945 in Summit, New Jersey to Helen (Falk) Tahaney and Charles Tahaney, Sr.

Educated in the Livingston public schools, he was a proud graduate of the LHS class of 1963. He graduated in 1967 from St. Peter’s College, Jersey City, with a BS in English/education. In 1972, he earned an MBA in public administration from Seton Hall University’s Paul Stillman School of Business.

Edward Vincent O’Donnell, known by most as Eddie O, passed away suddenly at his home on February 8, 2021. He was 58 years young.

Ed grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, and always shared how much he loved spending his childhood there, especially spending time with one of his biggest influences Pete Seabron. Ed then moved to Rockaway, New Jersey, where he started his family. He later moved to Livingston, New Jersey, where he continued to grow his family and spent the last 21 years.

Ed was a contractor for more than 40 years and was affiliated with Pella Windows throughout his career, otherwise known as the Pella Fella.

Ed was a third-degree member and a new officer of the Columbian Association of the Knights of Columbus in Livingston, New Jersey. He was also a member ofthe Livingston Elks and the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh in West Orange, New Jersey. Ed was a faithful member of St. Philomena’s Parish in Livingston.