Livingston community

Following a pursuit, Livingston Police officers recovered a stolen vehicle. Another vehicle, which was unlocked, was stolen in town later in the week, as well.

Stolen Van

At 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, Livingston Police officers were notified of a stolen Sprinter van that was travelling west on Mt. Pleasant Avenue into Livingston. The owner of the van had followed it through West Orange into Livingston. The van had been stolen a few hours earlier in Newark, police said.

Officer Anthony Trajer was able to locate the van and began to follow it with his unmarked car. When they reached Livingston Center, Officer Trajer and Officer Kevin Kitchen attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver of the van refused to stop and turned south on South Livingston Avenue. The officers continued to follow the van, which was travelling at the speed limit.

Mitchel Roy Lubitz, 74, of Delray Beach, Florida, formerly of Livingston and West Orange, died on November 29 after a long battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elyse; his son, Jared (Kimberly); two grandchildren; his brother; Alan Lubitz (Karen); and his sister, Rhonda Terry.

Born in Jersey City, Mr. Lubitz moved to Union and graduated from Union High School and Boston University College of Business Administration. He served on the Law Review at Seton Hall University School of Law, and received his degree in 1971.

Mr. Lubitz practiced in Essex County with a focus on commercial, bankruptcy and real estate law. He was a partner at the Lum law firm in Roseland, and was elected chairman of the West Essex Ethics Committee.

Chapel services were held on December 2 at Beth Israel Memorial Chapel and were followed by interment at Eternal Light, both in Boynton Beach, Florida.

LANCERS DEFEAT NORTH STAR: The Livingston High School boys’ varsity basketball team defeated the Knights of North Star Academy, 54-45, on Friday evening, December 17. Shown above, Lancer Nate Nussbaum soars to score on a baseline drive against the Knights. Above, right, Lancer guard Luke Cohen, #1, drives through the Knights’ defenders to score. At right, Lancer forward Dylan Perlstein just beats the blocking attempt to score for Livingston. Don Schwartz Photos

FACE NORTH STAR IN SEASON OPENER: The Livingston High School junior varsity boys’ basketball team was defeated by North Star Academy, 44-42, on Friday evening, December 17, at home in the LHS Fitness and Wellness Center. Shown at left, Lancer forward Ryan Sayle, #15, scores from underneath against North Star. Above, Lancer center #22, Elias Porter, soars for the rebound against the Knights. Don Schwartz Photos

Dennis Raffa, Sr., 72, died Tuesday, December 14, in Livingston.

Born in Newark, Mr. Raffa was a long-time resident of Livingston, where he was a communicant of St. Philomena’s Church. He worked as a grounds keeper at Seton Hall University for 42 years before his retirement.

Mr. Raffa is survived by his wife of 44 years, Karen; his sons and their spouses, Dennis Jr. (Courtney) and Frank (Amy); his siblings, Paul Raffa (Grace) and Nancy Vassallo (Lenny); and four grandchildren.

Visitation was held on Sunday, December 19 , at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, Livingston. A funeral Mass was offered on Monday, December 20, at St. Philomena Church, Livingston. Entombment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested donations in Mr. Raffa’s name be made to www.shu.edu/giving.

FENCING QUAD MEET: The Livingston High School varsity fencing teams hosted Columbia, Millburn and Montclair in a quad meet on Saturday, December 18. Shown above, left, Lancer Wenli Cai, right, sets to score against Aidan Haley of Columbia. Cai defeated Haley, 5-4. The Lancer boys’ team was defeated by Millburn and Montclair by identical 19-8 scores. Above, right, Lancer Haley Bhatt, right, charges to score against Rhody Evie of Columbia. Bhatt defeated Evie, 5-4. The girls’ team defeated Montclair, 19-8. Don Schwartz Photos

Elizabeth Joyce Dennington, who grew up in Livingston, died on December 11 and was interred in Pinelawn Memorial Park, Southern Pines, North Carolina.

Born in 1923 to Ralph and Mildred Brady, Mrs. Dennington was a 1940 graduate of West Orange High School and a 1944 graduate of the College of St. Elizabeth. She later earned a master’s degree from Montclair State University.

She taught home economics, child growth and development, and family living at West Orange High School, and later worked in the school’s administration.

After retiring, she lived in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Burdette, Mrs. Dennington is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Rick Clancy, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina: her son and daughter-in-law, Ralph and Nancy Dennington, of Hampton, Virginia; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Christmas this year looks like it will be a bit different than usual at my house. I’ve written in this space before about my [now adult] children. About their growing up years, their college years, and about their lives as adults. I’ve mentioned before that when the kids were small, I envisioned them growing up and settling in this area, or at least living somewhere a relatively short car ride away. However, that’s not what happened.

My oldest lives in Florida; my middle kid is in Tennessee; and my youngest is in Ohio. They’re all, thank goodness, happy, healthy, and gainfully employed in jobs that they love. They’re also all far enough away that it requires a flight to get to them, unless I’m willing to drive somewhere between 9 and 20 hours (which I’m not).

Dear Editor:

Thank you for your recent opinion regarding traffic safety for all.

It happens that I was at Hobart Gap Road waiting to turn left onto Livingston Avenue. I noticed a teenage girl waiting at the corner. She obviously wanted to cross. When the light turned green the driver in front of me quickly made the left turn. The young woman skirted back to the curb. I pulled forward slowly and told her to cross as she had the right of way. All the cars waiting to go to JFK waited, as did the vehicles coming across.

I write because our lights are not pedestrian-friendly, and drivers must remember that the pedestrian has the right of way.

Safe holidays to all.

Merle Kalishman

8 Trombley Drive

Dear Editor:

December 7, 1941: War begins.

On December 24, 1941 a small town of 12,000 people in Nebraska was preparing to feed a home-cooked meal to the troops from Nebraska coming through their North Platte train station, which was transformed into a canteen. When the train came in, the troops were from out of state, but they fed and gave the homesick troops magazines anyway. North Platte was to become a major train stop for troops going to the east coast from the west coast to go to Europe and the Pacific.

The stop was only for ten minutes. The good people of North Platte made that ten minutes count with their hospitality.