latest news from Livingston

Sandra Garb, 84, died on Sunday, April 5. She was born in Newark and was a long-time resident of Livingston.

Predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Martin Garb, and her brother, Marvin Warhaftig, she is survived by her two daughters, Mindy Garb of West Orange, and Randi Goldberg (Eliot) of Morganville; her son, Larry Garb (Stacey) of Towaco; her sister-in-law, Connie Cherenson (Lee) of Florham Park; and six grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that contributions in Mrs. Garb’s memory be made to the Friendship Circle of Central Jersey, 26 Wickatunk Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726 (www.friendsnj.com).

Funeral services will be private.

Donald Louis Guldner, Sr., a longtime resident of Livingston, died on April 2 at the age of 94. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Army’s 5th Infantry Red Diamond Division of Patton’s Third Army.

Mr. Guldner graduated from Pace University and became a certified public accountant, working as treasurer for Bates Manufacturing and Graulick Hotel Properties.

He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church of Livingston, active in the Livingston Old Guard, and supported the Livingston Historical Society, AARP, and ESL Program. In 2015 he joined the Crane’s Mill Community.

Mr. Guldner was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Beverly Jean Guldner, and is survived by his six children, Donald Guldner Jr., Kenneth Guldner (Linda), Robert Guldner (Meg), William Guldner (Jean), Dianne Grenz (Timothy), and Debbie Pavlo (Michael); 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Team UCLA defeated Team Syracuse to capture the fifth-sixth grade Livingston Recreation Girls’ Basketball League championship, held earlier this year at Mt. Pleasant Middle School. Shown here, the team includes, rear, Lexi Nelson, Ella Chai, Annie Ferrans, Josie Klein, and Bella Jenis; and front, Emma LaBrunda, Jayden Cohen, and Goldie Stein. Also on the team were Kylie Wong and Chloe Wright. The team was coached by Frank Klein and Michael Ferrans.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/West%20Essex%20TribuneID480/

The Livingston High School varsity ice hockey team concluded its season with ten wins, eight losses, and five ties. The team ranked seventh in the Public B State Tournament and reached the semi-finals in the conference tournament. Don Schwartz Photo

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/West%20Essex%20TribuneID480/

Former Livingston resident Nancy C. Rall died in Warminster, Pennsylvania, on April 3. She was 89 years old.

Born in Newark, she was educated in the Orange school system, graduating in 1947. She was employed by the West Orange Board of Education from 1947 to 1963, serving as office secretary in the Hazel Avenue and Edison Junior High Schools. She later worked for the Township of Livingston in the Department of Recreation and Parks for over a decade.

A soprano, Mrs. Rall studied voice in New York City. She was a soloist in several local churches. She met her husband of 59 years, Fred Rall, at Kilburn Memorial Presbyterian Church in Newark, where they were choir members together.

Rose Feldman, 98, passed away peacefully at home on March 30. A resident of Livingston for over 50 years, Rose was predeceased by her husband Dr. Bernard Feldman DDS. She is survived by her three children, Barbara, Elliot, and Paul and his wife, Perri; and two grandchildren, Michelle and Daniel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Metropolitan Orchestra of New Jersey, of which Rose was a member for 45 years, at P.O. Box 155, Livingston, NJ, 07039.

While COVID-19 is undoubtedly the first, second, and third thing on most people’s minds lately, there is still other business to attend to, some of which necessitates public meetings. As a result, there have been several public Township Council and Board of Education meetings held while residents have been advised to stay home.

These meetings have been streamed live for anyone to see, ensuring that business continues and critical information is shared with residents, even if we cannot all currently occupy the same room. It’s not perfect, but it works, and we appreciate that everyone involved with staging these meetings understands the importance of public access to them.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/West%20Essex%20TribuneID480/

As we approach the one month mark of “social distancing” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the breadth of all we are missing continues to sink in.

At first, it was easy to see what we could no longer enjoy in our daily lives. It began with avoiding crowds of 50. Then ten. We lost the NBA, the NHL, the MLB, and the March Madness Tournament, along with countless concerts and festivals. We were no longer allowed to dine out at our favorite restaurants and bars, or patronize many of our local small businesses. Gyms, movie theaters, even parks were forced to shutter.

But sadly, as we are still realizing, that was just the tip of the iceberg. We don’t even grasp the things we are missing until they happen, or, rather, they don’t end up happening and the date passes by as we all continue to wait this out in our homes.

Livingston Philanthropies Inc. (LPI) founder and director Jeff Friedman says the Livingston-based charity is continuing to help the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic.
“This week’s LPI photo is our friend, Bob, who has resided on the same bench on Newark’s Route 21 (McCarter Highway) for years now,” said Friedman. “Like the 1991 movie starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfus, we like to ask ‘What About Bob?’
“When we’re in Newark delivering to our distribution associates, we stop to see Bob for a quick hand-off of money, toiletries, a heavy winter coat and whatever else we may have at the time. Bob is homeless. His world is the cold streets, or Penn Station when the temperature drops.”

Former Livingston resident and beloved Livingston High School teacher Francesco (Frank) Miserendino recently celebrated his 100th birthday at Casa Bellisima in Andover Township with his children and grandchildren.

Frank was born February 20, 1920, in Belleville, the middle son of Italian immigrants Giosue Miserendino and Henrietta Rocca Geraci. Life was tough growing up during the Great Depression. His father was a shoe maker and owned his own shop. Before the Depression, the family lived in an apartment upstairs from the shop they owned. But the family later lost the business and had to move to a small room. The Miserendinos were also forced to go on “relief” – what is known today as welfare. To help his family out financially, Frank served in the Civil Conservation Crops in upstate New York at the age of 17.