latest news from Livingston

At the Livingston Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on Tuesday, January 25, the Board elected their chairman, vice chairman, and recording secretary. The Board also set its meeting schedule for the year and reviewed eight applications.

The meeting was held on Zoom and may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

Re-Organization

During the reorganization portion of the meeting, former vice chairman Tony Nardone renominated Jim Hochberg as chairman. Board member Edward Bier seconded the nomination and Hochberg was unanimously elected.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve,” Hochberg said.

Nardone nominated board member Lauren Tabak Fass as vice chairman. Alternate board member Laurie Kahn seconded the nomination and Fass was unanimously elected.

Fass nominated Bier as recording secretary. Nardone seconded the nomination and Bier was unanimously elected.

SHEET OF ICE: Littell’s Pond, shown here on Tuesday, January 25, is frozen over after a week of artic temperatures. MI Photo

PICK UP HOUSES: The Camuso Holiday Display at Memorial Park closed for the season in early January. The “elves” have requested that those who have purchased a personalized gingerbread house please pick them up at the display site on the Oval through this Saturday, January 29. The gingerbread houses were created as part of a yearly fundraising effort for the Display.

Lance Rogers Photo

The Livingston High School hockey team continued its unbeaten streak among public schools this week by going 2-0-1. The Lancers tied Glen Rock 3-3 on Friday, January 21. Goals by Zach Silva, Danny Grossbard, and Austin Vecchio helped the Lancers earn a late-game tie. Assists by Dillion Schultz, Ryan Zales, Brett Conklin, Zach Silva, Danny Grossbard, and Jace Dockx were key to the Lancer comeback. Solid defense by Andrew Qian, Dockx, Brett Conklin, and Ryan Zales, along with solid goaltending from Justinas Sanders, helped the Lancers kill off six power-play opportunities for Glen Rock.

Jose L. Catarroja died on January 14 at the age of 86.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Mr. Catarroja came to the United States in 1965 on a research grant at Columbia University. He lived in Jersey City, Manhattan, West Orange and, most recently, in Livingston.

Mr. Catarroja practiced dentistry in the Philippines and later worked as a medical technologist at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Orange Memorial Hospital, and Clara Maass Medical Center.

He was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West Orange.

Pre-deceased by his nine siblings, Mr. Catarroja is survived by his wife of 54 years, Presentacion “Pressy” Catarroja; his children, Joseph Catarroja (Rhea) and Jennifer Solimene (Vito); and four grandsons.

Funeral services were private and held under the direction of Shook-Farmer Funeral Home, Roseland.

S. Stephen Atkins of Livingston, NJ, known to all who knew and loved him as “Steve,” passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022, of natural causes. He was 97 years old.

An esteemed member of the Greatest Generation, Steve lived a life personified by honesty, integrity, duty and love. He was married to his beloved wife, Alice, for 66 years, until her passing eight years ago.

Rona Lubetkin, 84, died at home on Friday, January 21.

Born in Newark to Moe and Tillie Zimmerman, she lived for many years in Livingston before moving to Verona 20 years ago.

She was the wife of Charles “Tudy” Lubetkin for 66 years; the mother of Jay Lubetkin (Debbie), David Lubetkin (Kathy), and Beth Talbert (Andy), the sister of Sherry Weintraub (Stephen); the grandmother of eight, and the greatgrandmother of one.

A funeral service was held on Monday, January 24, at Bernheim Apter Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, Livingston, followed by burial at King Solomon Cemetery, Clifton.

Donations in Mrs. Lubetkin’s memory may be made to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052.

William Bottorff, 93, of Dublin, Ohio, formerly of Livingston and Toms River, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 23.

Born in Neptune, New Jersey on July 4, 1928, he moved to Livingston in 1957 and to Toms River in 1999. William was a manager of F.W. Woolworth Company before his retirement.

William served his country in World War II and was stationed in Germany from 1946-1948. He served in the Army Reserves for 3½ years after his station. He was a proud member of the Livingston 201 American Legion for many years, including as Sergeant of Arms and Senior Vice Commander.

He was predeceased by his wife, Joan, and his son, William. He is survived by his daughters, Lori (Bill) and JoAnne (Don), his son, John (Patty), and his daughter-in-law, Patricia, as well as 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Gerald J. Reilly died on Monday, January 17, at the age of 77.

Born in Easton, Pennsylvania, to Marguerite and William J. Reilly, Mr. Reilly grew up in Livingston and lived in Scotch Plains before moving to Plainfield.

Mr. Reilly graduated from Livingston High School and received his BS in Finance from Seton Hall University in 1967. After serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, he earned his MBA at Rutgers University.

He retired in 2006 from a long career in the financial sector at Fidelity and Bank of America in Summit.

He was predeceased by his longtime partner, Lucille Kory, and is survived by his wife, Dr. Joan Coll-Reilly, and her children; his sisters; his ex-wife and their children.

Services were held at Memorial Funeral Home in Fanwood, on Wednesday, January 26, followed by interment with military honors at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in South Plainfield.

Charles D. Curcio of Livingston, died at his home on Sunday, January 23.

Born in Newark to Rose and Charles Curcio on November 8, 1937, he graduated from Irvington High School in 1954. He joined the Navy and served four years at the submarine base in Norfolk, Virginia.

Mr. Curcio owned and operated Apollo Welding in Irvington for 30 years before retiring in 2002.

He was predeceased by his siblings, Josephine, Rose Marie and Patricia, and is survived by his four children, Dawn, Charles Jr., Hope and Cynthia, and his grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Philomena’s Roman Catholic Church in Livingston on Thursday, January 27, at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

Memories and expressions of sympathy can be shared at quinnhoppingfuneral.com.