Livingston community

Sam Levine, a Livingston resident for the past 17 years, passed away on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at the age of 91.

Sam was born in New York City in 1930. He was raised by his parents, Max and Goldie, along with his younger sister, Esther, on the lower east side of Manhattan. As part of a large extended family, Sam had many aunts, uncles and cousins – most of whom resided nearby. He often spoke about how his cousins were more like siblings growing up.

The Roseland law firm of Mandelbaum Barrett kicked off its 2022 charitable giving with a winter gear drive and a $5,000 donation to Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. “LPI is one of our favorite local charities to support,” notes Lauren Lynch, the firm’s chief culture officer. In addition to the financial donation from the Mandelbaum Charitable Foundation, Mandelbaum Barrett attorneys and staff donated gently used and new hats, scarves, gloves and winter coats to the Livingston-based charity.

Each year in late January and early February, veterans’ organizations across the country pay tribute to the Four Chaplains, the four military chaplains aboard the U.S.S. Dorchester who, when the ship was torpedoed, sacrificed their lives so their fellow crew members could live.

Livingston resident Charles Quinn, a veteran of the Vietnam War and chaplain of Livingston’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, wrote to the Tribune this week about the Four Chaplains.

“On February 3, 1943, there was a great crash followed by a muffled explosion aboard the U.S.A.T. Dorchester,” Quinn noted. “The ship was sailing in the icy, U-boat infested waters of the North Atlantic, heading for Greenland. A torpedo had smashed on the starboard side, the right side, near the engine room.

During the Monday, January 24, meeting of the Livingston Township Council, members passed a housing ordinance that had been debated for much of 2021. The meeting was held virtually and may be viewed on the Livingston Township, NJ Facebook page.

The ordinance would amend chapter 170 of the code to establish a new inclusionary development zone, designated as the “R-5L Residence Overlay District” for lots 25 and 26 in tax block 6101. The proposed ordinance had been discussed during Council meetings for several months.

These lots are located on more than three acres of land along Passaic Avenue and Volker Lane. The purpose of this ordinance is to permit inclusionary multi-family residential development of not more than 72 units, including a 20 percent set-aside of affordable units in the district. Inclusionary zoning requires a given share of new construction to be affordable housing.

After weeks of postponed and/or canceled matches, the Livingston High School wrestling team was finally able to get its dual meet season underway.

It began on January 12 with a 34-21 home victory over Pope John XXIII High School. The Lancers followed this with a win the following Friday against Bloomfield, 53-18, and a set of wins the next Saturday at a home quad-meet, 36-24, over Seton Hall Prep, 48-24, over Old Bridge, and 57-18, over Freehold Boro. The Lancers finished their first week of competition with a 5-0 record.

The next week began with a match against top ten-ranked Phillipsburg at Phillipsburg, a rescheduled match that was originally scheduled to be a home one for the Lancers. The Lancers received their season’s first defeat, a 37-22 loss to the Stateliners.

This week continued with back-to-back wins against Essex County opponents: 63-12 against Caldwell on Livingston’s Senior Night, and 72-9 at West Orange.

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.