Livingston New Jersey news

Editor’s Note: This week, Livingston Philanthropies founder and director Jeff Friedman offers the following progress report on the Livingston charity as its annual coat drive comes to an end.
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As Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) continues its eighth season of giving, and coat season draws to a close, it’s my honor to provide a progress report for our generous Livingston neighbors. Although we are no longer collecting coats and winter accessories for now, LPI continues to request donations of new toiletries and cosmetics, men’s dress attire, family clothing, diapers, new men’s socks and shoes. Footwear is paramount, especially men’s sneakers.

Dr. Marvin Schwalb of Livingston died on April 10.

He was a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey for over 45 years and also served as the associate director of the Institute of Genomic Medicine.

Predeceased by his brother, Bruce, Dr. Schwalb is survived by Karen, his wife of 56 years; his daughters, Robin, Heidi and Abby; and his sister, Karen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Newark Arts (newarkarts.org) or MAC Angels Foundation (macangels.org), which supports people with ALS.

The funeral service was held in Guilderland, New York on April 12. Online condolences may be left at levinememorial.com.

Karl Brunell, 96, formerly of Livingston, died in his sleep on Friday, April 12, five days after his wife, Dr. Lillian Brunell. The funeral service was held on Sunday, April 14, at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel.

Mr. Brunell was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1922, and came to the United States in 1939 to escape Nazi Germany. He worked as a machinist and earned a GED at night.

Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, Mr. Brunell became a Second Lieutenant and was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery.

Earning an engineering degree at City College, Mr. Brunell worked at Bell and Howell Labs, the American Company, and John Dusenbury Company, and held several engineering patents. He married in 1947 and raised two daughters.

Mr.Brunell issurvivedbyhissister, Adele Obodov; his daughters, Merrilea Brunell (Jeff) and Hilary (Larry) Monaco; his four grandchildren; and his four great-grandchildren.

With Earth Day less than a week away on Monday, April 22, and the topics of sustainability and climate change as prevalent as ever, let us take a moment to reflect on the gains we have made over the last nearly five decades to accelerate environmental progress, and all we still have yet to accomplish.

Celebrated around the globe, Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day to provide education about, and demonstrate support for, environmental issues. When it comes to recognizing the need to care for our planet, humans have come a long way, but there’s still much more to be done.

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According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released last week, New Jersey preschoolers have the highest autism rate in the country. The rate among children has tripled in a generation, with one in 35 New Jersey children being diagnosed with autism by age four, based on the most recent surveys.

In 1992, the autism rate was at one percent. Nearly a decade ago, in 2010, it was at three percent. According to the study, the rate jumped another 43 percent from then to 2014. One in 23 4-year-old boys in the state is now diagnosed with autism (boys are three-and-a-half times as likely to be diagnosed, according to the study).

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Jules B. Blaustein 98, of Livingston died on March 19.

Born in Newark, he also lived in Springfield, Short Hills and Boca Raton, Florida.

Mr. Blaustein graduated from the University of Newark, now Rutgers University. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and worked for the family business, M. Blaustein Furs.

Predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Irene Blaustein, he is survived by his three daughters, Lauren (Lloyd) Perkel, Barbara (Roy) Levine, and Carol (Paul) Barnhard; his sister, Miriam Friedman; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were made by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel.

Jake Ian Kestler of Livingston died peacefully on Thursday, April 11, after battling two different cancers during his short life. He was surrounded by his family.

Born on December 3, 2004, Jake survived a battle with leukemia in 2012 after receiving a bone marrow transplant from his then five-year-old sister, Lily. Jake’s courage inspired the formation of Team Jake which raised more than $300,000 for rare cancer research.

Jake loved his family and friends, adventures of all kinds, and food and eating at different restaurants. He loved life and lived it to the fullest.

Jake is survived by his mother and father, Joshua and Gallite Kestler; his sister, Lily; his brother, Luke; and his grandparents, Efraim and Lea Rajs, Judith and Marc Apirian, and Dr.

Monroe Bierman of Boynton Beach, Florida, and Livingston, died April 15 at the age of 88.

Mr. Bierman graduated from Weequahic High School in Newark in 1948. He went on to attend Rutgers University Business School and graduated in 1952. He served as a sergeant in the Korean War.

He owned Fitrite Fashions in Newark, and served as president of the Springfield Avenue Merchants’ Association for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Bobbi Fechtner Bierman; his sister, Beverly Albert of New York City; his daughters, Amie, and her husband, Steven, and Heidi and her husband, Michael; his son, David, and his wife, Elyse; and eight grandchildren and two grandsons-in law.

Graveside services were private. Visitation will take place at the family home today, Thursday, April 18, between 3 and 9 p.m.

The family has suggested that donations be made to parkinsonfoundation.org.

The Livingston High School varsity softball team traveled to Montclair on Friday, April 12, and defeated the Mounties, 11-1. The win came on the heels of a 6-0 loss to the Lions of Mount Saint Dominic on Wednesday, April 10, on the oval. Shown here, Lancer pitcher Jessica Bullion delivers a fast ball strike on the opening pitch against the Lions. Don Schwartz Photo

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David Rosa, II, a 1997 graduate of Livingston High School and 2002 graduate of Fordham University, will be inducted into Fordham University’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 27, at a gala to be held at 583 Park in New York City. Rosa joins the likes of Frankie Frisch, Vince Lombardi, Wellington Mara and Vin Scully in the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

After a stand-out career at Livingston High School, Rosa was recruited and awarded a scholarship to the Division I university. Over the course of his career at Fordham, he established himself as one of the top track and field athletes in the school’s history, winning three conference championships. Highlights of his collegiate career include two-time First Team and two-time Second Team All Atlantic 10 selections. He also earned All-East honors as a junior and senior, placing fifth in the 400 meter hurdles at the prestigious IC4A/ ECAC championships.