Livingston news

John Phillip Ryder,75, peacefully transitioned on November 4, 2021 at Flagler Hospital, St. Augustine, Florida. He was lovingly surrounded by his immediate family. John had been dealing with complications from heart disease and diabetes for the past few years.

John was predeceased by his mother, Sarah Bernhard Ryder, and his father, Arthur Calvin Ryder; as well as his brother-in-law, Arthur Lawrence Murphy Jr., and sister-in-law, Marilyn Whitcomb Murphy.

John is survived by his wife, Marilyn Murphy Ryder, and his brother, Robert Kimble Ryder (Cindy). He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Sharon Murphy Hyers (Curt) and Ann Marie Callahan Murphy (Robert deceased).

He is also survived by many dearly loved nieces, nephews and grandnieces/nephews. John will be greatly missed by his extended family, including his “adopted mother” Ruth Jacoby, as well as devoted friends, students, and of course his kitties, Ali, Earl Grey and Little One.

In reporting the continuation of a COVID-interrupted partnership, Livingston Philanthropies Inc. (LPI) founder Jeff Friedman noted, “Livingston neighbors and friends have done it again to help provide for the ‘homeless, profoundly poor and disenfranchised.’ ”
 Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) continued its partnership with the Early Childhood Center (ECC) at Forest Glen in Bloomfield. Put on hold due to the pandemic last holiday season, ECC principal and former Livingston resident Linda Colucci and her students once again built a “Giving Tree” for donation to LPI.

John Greco of Lanoka Harbor, formerly of Livingston, died Thursday, December 9, at the age of 85. He was born August 13, 1936.

A visitation will take place today, Thursday, December 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. at LaMonica Memorial Home, 145 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Livingston. A visitation was also held yesterday, Wednesday, December 15, at the Quinn Hopping Funeral Home in Toms River.

A funeral Mass will be offered Friday, December 17, from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Philomena Church, 386 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston.

Memories and expressions of sympathy for the Greco family may be shared at www.lamonicamemorialhome.com.

Former Livingston resident Elizabeth Murphy Durkin died December 3. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered for her in St. Aloysius Church, Caldwell, on Friday, December 10, followed by interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Arrangements were by Hugh M. Moriarty Funeral Home, Montclair.

Born in Kearny in 1925, she had lived in Essex Fells for more than 50 years. She had also lived in Livingston and regularly wintered in Wellington, Florida before ending her days in Spring Lake.

She attended St. Cecilia’s grammar and high schools in Kearny and won an academic scholarship to the College of St. Elizabeth. In 1949, she left her studies to marry Thomas E. Durkin, Jr., with whom she raised seven children.

BASKETBALL TEAM HAS TWO SCRIMMAGES: The Livingston High School girls’ varsity basketball team has been preparing for its season opener with scrimmages against local teams. The Lady Lancers hosted Newark Academy on Tuesday, December 7. Shown at right, Lancer forward Avery McLaughlin hits the corner jump shot against Newark Academy. The Lancers hosted Hanover Park on Thursday, December 9. Shown above, Lancer forward Christine Belcuore drives the lane against Hanover Park. Don Schwartz Photos

Barbara Zimmerman of Livingston, age 86, passed away on December 6, 2021.

Barbara was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. She attended Bayonne High School and then attended Beaver College, where she studied childhood education.

At the age of 18, while a counselor at Camp Glenmere in the Berkshires, she met Howard Zimmerman, a counselor at Camp Lenox. They fell in love and married two years later, beginning a 65-year love affair.

Barbara and Howard moved to Livingston in 1963 and lived there until their passing. Barbara will be remembered for

Barbara will be remembered for her deep commitment to family, her great sense of style, her beautiful smile and great laugh.

She is survived by her daughters, Diane Goldman, Lori Zimmerman and Debbie Merkin (Andy Merkin); and her grandchildren, Sydney and Alex Merkin and Jared Goldman.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation – alzdiscovery.org.

Dear Editor:

I spoke at the [school] board meeting on November 23 about the Board of Education’s proposal to install synthetic turf in the Pit at Livingston High School. I represented the students of Livingston that are advocating against this proposal. Beyond speaking, me and my colleagues created a petition to educate the students of Livingston High School and gain support for our cause.

Astro-Turf is a synthetic alternative to grass and is used for areas designated for sports games. It has a carpet made out of polyester tire cord as the base and the blades of “grass” are made of nylon or polypropylene. Astro-Turf is extremely environmentally harmful, made of materials that are poisonous to the soil and water. Synthetic turf is also notably unhealthy and unsafe for athletes.

Synthetic turf absorbs and reflects heat, making a hot day even hotter, and it is much easier for players to lose their footing and hurt themselves on Astro-Turf.

December 17, 1981: In front page news in the West Essex Tribune 40 years ago this week, two snow storms on Monday and Tuesday evenings kept Livingston’s emergency services busy, and resulted in the closing of the public schools on Wednesday.

Maps prepared by the state Department of Agriculture following a survey of Livingston indicated that the township would be facing a major infestation by gypsy moths with the arrival of warmer weather in the spring.

By a split 4-3 vote, the Planning Board approved the major subdivision of the tract known as the Scala Estate into seven residential lots and the completion of Burnet Hill Road as a through street between West Northfield Road and Coddington Terrace.

At the same meeting, the Board began hearing an application for a minor subdivision of the property at 33 Sycamore Terrace. Several residents of Bear Brook Court voiced objections to the plan. At the Livingston Board of

Dear Editor:

In reply to the article in December 9, 2021 on Livingston Pickleball:

I appreciate the efforts of the town and Ron Barbella to try to improve the pickleball experience in Livingston. However, the article in the West Essex Tribune left out many relevant facts that should be considered.

The pickleball program has been extremely successful in Livingston and has brought many benefits to the residents of Livingston that enjoy this sport. It has brought many players outside of Livingston because of the popularity of these courts. This has enhanced the reputation of Livingston in the surrounding communities. Livingston Pickleball has donated to making the school experience successful (racquets) and has donated to several Livingston charities.

5 p.m. (next Tuesday, December 21, will be the shortest day of the year), we must remember, as drivers and pedestrians, to be wary of others on the roadways. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many more people have taken to the streets to get some fresh air and exercise, and drivers must remember to be careful, particularly when it gets dark out. And walkers, runners, and bicyclists should not assume that motorists can see you; particularly when navigating around leaf piles into the center of streets, be sure to look out for vehicles, wear reflective clothing, and use flashlights.