Livingston community

Elaine Carol Rendall of Orlando, Florida was called home to the Lord on September 7, 2021. She was 76 years old. Born in Orange, New Jersey to Henry and Teresa DeMatteis, she grew up in Livingston and graduated from Livingston High School, Montclair State College and received her master of arts degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. After teaching Spanish at Mountain Lakes High School for several years, she moved to Miami, Florida. There she held a variety of senior human resource positions, which later led to her move to Orlando.

Thanks to the continued support of Livingston residents, Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) volunteers participated in the second annual World Homeless Day event in Lincoln Park in Newark on Friday, October 8. 
“This important community outreach, produced by the talented staff at LPI distribution partner Newark Emergency Services  for Families (NESF), was a first on-site endeavor for LPI,” explained the charity’s founder and director, Jeff Friedman of Livingston. “Volunteers distributed new men’s and women’s underwear, warm socks, nail clippers, toiletries gift bags and designer handbags donated by a Livingston resident.”
“Thank you for coming and for everything you do for us,” said NESF executive director Amina Bey. 
“I learned a lot for next time,” added Friedman. “Our next event will be a Free Footwear Giveaway with another key partner, Newark’s Willing Heart Community Care Center (WHCCC), on the other side of town.”

LANCERS FALL TO EAST ORANGE: The Livingston High School varsity football team was defeated by the East Orange Campus Jaguars, 47-7, on Friday evening, October 1, on the LHS Turf. Shown here, Lancer quarterback Brandon Kenney, #17, rolls to his left prior to throwing a touchdown pass to Derek Ford, #84. Don Schwartz Photo

NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS: Eight Livingston High School students were named among the roughly 16,000 semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Shourya Bansal, Joshua Faber, Kate Pun, Andrew Qian, Daniel Siegal, Kush Vachher, Alan Wu, and Arthur Zang have advanced in the competition. These seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Shown here are (back row) Bansal and Qian; (middle row) Zang, Faber, Siegal, and Vachher; and (front row) LHS principal Danielle Rosenzweig, Pun, and Wu.

Administrators and equity teams from each school have been examining all aspects of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion in our district, according to Lisa Steiger, assistant superintendent of equity and inclusion. She gave a presentation about equity in the schools at the September 28 Board of Education meeting.

Each school building has an equity team that includes administrators, teachers, secretaries and custodians.

Steiger reviewed the district’s efforts around its equity goal, including looking at HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) and other data; professional development and curricular initiatives; student conversations and focus groups; and the decision to work with the Great Schools Partnership, a nonprofit consultant, as equity coaches.

Parent Feedback

Steiger reported results from a parent survey administered last spring that garnered 1,740 responses and 550 comments.

Livingston Police officers are actively investigating an armed robbery that took place Monday evening, October 4.

At 10:45 p.m., two masked people robbed the Tiger Mart convenience store attached to the Exxon gas station at 649 South Orange Avenue. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun which was pointed at the clerk.

The robbery was called in by an attendant at the gas pumps who saw the robbery taking place in the store. When police arrived, employees told officers that the robbers fled on foot toward East Hobart Gap Road.

Witnesses then told officers the two suspects entered a waiting car, which sped off. No injuries were reported and about $880 was stolen from the store registers.

Both suspects were wearing track suits, one dark in color and the other with a light blue top. Anyone who was in the area and may have witnessed anything is asked to call the Livingston Police detective bureau at 973-992-3000.

Claire Frances Waldron (née Mehl) of Livingston died on Monday, October 4, surrounded by her family. She was 87 years old.

A Funeral Mass will be offered on Thursday, October 7, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 32 Lakeside Avenue, Verona. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

Mrs. Waldron was born in Orange and lived in the Oranges before moving to Livingston. She worked for Midlantic Bank in South Orange as a teller for many years.

She was the wife of the late Robert Waldron, and the mother of Mary Reinke (Peter), Wally Waldron (Lynn), Billy Waldron (Dana), Kate O’Callaghan (Patrick), and Greg Waldron; the grandmother of nine, and the great-grandmother of one. She was also the sister of William Mehl, and the late Betty Brattlof, Ann Mehl, and Walter Mehl.

Mrs. Waldron was a member of the Rosary Altar Society at St. John’s Church and the St. Vincent DePaul Society at Saint Raphael’s Church.

TOP PLAYERS: Three Livingston High School varsity boys soccer players were named among the top 100 seniors in the state by NJ.com. The Livingston players earning the nod were Luke Chisarick, Jared Fiske and Logan Paredes.

Saint Barnabas Medical Center has received a $100 million donation from the Cooperman Family Foundation and will rename the hospital Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC) in honor of the family’s gift.

The donation is the largest ever given to any hospital in New Jersey and will allow the medical center to continue its ongoing transformation into a world-class healthcare institution that provides the highest quality and most advanced care available anywhere in the New York metropolitan region.

“The Cooperman family has helped us to become the renowned institution that we are today,” said Barry Ostrowsky, president of RWJBarnabas Health. “Today’s generous gift from Leon and Toby Cooperman is transformational and ensures that our medical center will continue to develop as a state-of-the art medical campus and a leader in protecting and supporting the health of the community.”

Mitchell Katz of Livingston died on October 1, after a battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

Mr. Katz grew up in Livingston and moved back after living elsewhere in New Jersey. He graduated from George Washington University and he spent most of his career at Vac-U-Max in sales.

Mr. Katz was predeceased by his father, Stanley Katz, his mother, Leatrice Gold, his stepfather, Ramon Gold and his brother Daniel Gold. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Abby Rost-Katz, his two daughters, Shana Dryja (Corey) and Stacy Katz (Jason Berwanger); his grandson; his brothers, Ira Gold (Hemda), Elliot Katz (Claire); and his sisters, Jane Nichols (Mike) and Mara Gold.

A graveside service was held on October 4. Arrangements were by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be sent to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or to Cat Tales, Inc. of Warminster, Pennsylvania.