Livingston community

Bernard Ralph Sherman of Livingston died at St. Barnabas Medical Center on Sunday, August 16. He was 86 years old.

Born and raised in Newark, Mr. Sherman was a pharmacist and worked for many years at Chase Drugs in Newark.

He was predeceased by his wife, Carole, in 2008, and is survived by his daughter, Ellen Sherman.

A graveside service and burial was held at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Iselin. To share a memory or send a condolence, visit bernheimapter-kreitzman.com.

In the end, it appears we will end up where many expected us to start this new school year, after all.

Following Governor Phil Murphy’s announcement allowing all-remote learning to start the year for districts that can prove such a move is necessary, the Livingston Board of Education announced last week that the district will begin the 2020-21 school year doing just that. Livingston is not alone in this decision; according to Governor Murphy, as of Monday, 156 New Jersey school districts planned to start the year in all-remote fashion. The move is not surprising, as there is not a district in New Jersey that should have trouble justifying the risk schools pose in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We need look no further than Georgia’s schools to see how quickly the situation can unravel.

The Livingston Little League Age Eight Group Division Team recently defeated Passaic Valley, 9-8, and Cedar Grove, 1-0, to advance to the play-off semi-finals. Shown above, Livingston center fielder Bryce Cullen makes a game saving diving catch. At right, relief pitcher Blake Simon closes out the Passaic Valley Junior Hornets. Don Schwartz Photos

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Livingston recently defeated Belleville, 11-0, and Nutley, 12-2, on the Lou Krutoy Field at the Meadowbrook Complex. The two victories propelled the Livingston team of 11-year-olds into the tournament finals. Shown here, Jake Bonardi slides under the tag to score against Belleville. Don Schwartz Photo

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With the hope of creating something positive out of the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of five Livingston women - Mariann Cullen, Nicole Dockx, Laura Goren, Amy Hochberg, and Neeli Margolis - are forming a grass roots wellness initiative to assist Livingston students and families. They call it “LivWell 07039.”

“Our goal is to offer our students and teachers a catalogue of free wellness group classes - ranging from emotional learning, arts, yoga/movement and meditation,” explains Margolis. “We anticipate that most classes will be held remotely, but hope to hold some in-person yoga and movement classes.”

Toward that end, they are seeking volunteers who would be willing to donate a minimum of one hour per week to teach a four to six week class.

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Robert W. Farley of Livingston, died Sunday, August 23, in Livingston. He was 89 years old.

Born in Newark, Mr. Farley resided in Newark and South Orange, and later Spring Lake Heights, before settling in Livingston. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and served during the Korean War. He also served the Newark Fire Department for 25 years, retiring as a captain.

He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia, and his siblings, Kathleen, Margaret, Anna May, Helen, Edwin, John, and James. He is survived by his daughters, Mary Ann Farley and Eileen Topps (Brian); his sister, Agnes Cruitt; and two grandchildren.

Visitation and prayer service will be private. Arrangements are by the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston.

Roy L. Deter Jr., 61, of Branchburg, New Jersey, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Bridgeway Care Center.

Born in Orange, New Jersey, Roy resided in Denville, New Jersey 30-plus years ago, before relocating to Woodland, California and recently residing in Branchburg, New Jersey.

A Viewing will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2020 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 Route 202 South, Branchburg, New Jersey. Committal is private.

Please visit www.branchburg-funeralhome.com for a full obituary reflecting his life.

Laura K. Franklin of Livingston, New Jersey, died of natural causes on May 27, 2020. She was 95.

She worked much of her professional life as a medical editor.

Born in Latvia on March 1, 1925, she lived most of her life here in New Jersey.

She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph A. Franklin in 1958. Surviving are her two daughters, Barbara DeFuria and Elizabeth Franklin; her grandchildren, Melissa Coccia and Jason Zullo; and her great-grandson, Joseph Coccia IV.

No public service was held.

Mother, Daughter, Sister, Niece, Cousin, Wife, Sister-In-Law, Aunt and Friend. Valerie Collins Fletcher was all these and more.
On August 22, she lost her battle with cancer – a battle that she fought gallantly. She was a Collins, after all, and was made of sterner stuff.
A native of Livingston New Jersey, her parents, John and Melisande, surrounded her and her siblings with a home filled with love, humor and a sense of pride. After graduating from Livingston High School, Val used those attributes to land a job working on Tom Kean’s campaign for Governor of New Jersey. After her stint as a “Keanraiser,” she went on to work for Congressman Dean Gallo, Secretary of State Jane Burgio, and Don DeFrancesco during his time in the Senate.

Jeff Friedman of Livingston, founder and director of the non-profit Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) took this photo of donations for the homeless waiting for distribution by the Bessie Green Community in the parking lot across from the Prudential Center in Newark. “While the sports arena lays dormant during the pandemic, the parking lot is now used to distribute food and other basic survival items to a different crowd – the thousands of homeless and disenfranchised who have been relentlessly beaten down by the pandemic,” said Friedman. LPI, which pre-pandemic collected coats, toiletries and other items for the homeless, now solicits monetary donations to buy food for the homeless in urban Essex County. Those who would like to donate may mail checks to LPI at P.O. Box 247, Livingston, NJ 07039 or donate directly on PayPal at paypal.me/lpinj.