West Essex Tribune

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: Livingston High School students celebrated their graduation in-person and as a class on Wednesday, July 8. The in-person ceremony had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before a celebration with no family present was permitted. In this week’s issue of the Tribune, we have published a standalone section with photos from the in-person ceremony. These pages are designed to be saved and added to the July 2 keepsake graduation section. Arlene Brown Photo

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Doris Beck, 91, of Boca Raton, Florida, formerly of Livingston, New Jersey, passed peacefully on July 12, 2020.

A private funeral will be held on Thursday, July 16, at the Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, 68 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston.

Doris Beck was Mayor of Livingston in 1975 and 1978, and also served as Councilwoman from 1974 to 1982. She was the first woman to serve as mayor in any Essex County municipality.

Mrs. Beck was a trustee for Saint Barnabas Medical Center from 1977 to 2004 and a trustee of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System from 1996 to 2007. She served on the Board of Trustees of the Orange Savings Bank. She was President of the New Jersey State Library. She was President of the League of Women Voters of Livingston, and Vice President of the New Jersey State League of Women Voters. She was on the Arbitration Board of the New York Stock Exchange.

Susan Flax Hein, 81, of Livingston, died on July 9.

Mrs. Hein was born in Newark to Dr. Ira and Gussie Flax. She graduated from Weequahic High School and the University of Vermont, where she also obtained a master’s of science degree in microbiology.

Mrs. Hein raised her family in Short Hills and was the office manager for Eye Clinic PA in Newark, her husband’s ophthalmology practice.

Active in community affairs, she was a president of the Suburban Chapter of the Deborah Heart and Lung Association and volunteered at St. Hubert’s Animal Shelter and the Pet Therapy Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

Predeceased by her husband, Dr. Herbert F. Hein, Mrs. Hein is survived by her sister, Sondra Hollander of Dallas, Texas; her daughter, Stacey and her husband, Dr. David Gross, of Elizabeth; her son, Steven and his wife, Kimberly, of Short Hills; and three grandchildren.

A graveside service was held on July 10.

William J. LeFrancis, 87, died on July 10 at his home in Livingston. Mr. LeFrancis was born in Mont

Mr. LeFrancis was born in Montclair to Louis C. LeFrancis Sr. and Bridget (Masterson) LeFrancis.

During the Korean War, he enlisted in the Navy and served from 1952 to 1956 on the USS Intrepid. He then had a 25-year career with the Newark Police Department, retiring as Detective Sergeant in 1986.

Mr. LeFrancis received many awards and was a member of numerous organizations including the Fraternal Order of Police, the Police Honor Legion, the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Emerald Society.

He was predeceased by two daughters, Michelle LeFrancis Fox and Jeannine LeFrancis, and his siblings, Maureen LeFrancis Madden, Louis C. LeFrancis Jr., Bernadette LeFrancis Peslak and Dorothy LeFrancis Callahan.

David Ira Szerlip, 73, of Livingston, died at his daughter’s home on July 9 after a battle with lung cancer.

Born to Lillian (née Linett) and Herbert Szerlip, Mr. Szerlip was raised in Millburn and graduated from Millburn High School. After graduating from the University of Miami, he joined his father’s insurance agency, Szerlip & Company.

In 1994, he opened David Szerlip & Associates in Berkeley Heights. He later sold the company and returned to the family business.

Mr. Szerlip is survived by his wife, Kathleen Y. (née Gorton) Szerlip; his daughter, Kathleen (Brian) Edelman; his two grandchildren; his brother, Robert; and his sister-in-law, Rayni. A celebration of his life will be held

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, July 18 at 4 p.m. outdoors at his daughter’s home at 46 Wynnewood Drive in Livingston, abiding by social distancing standards.

Antoinette Guidice of Livingston, died at home on Friday, July 10. Mrs. Guidice was born to Michele and Maria (Libretti) Cammarano in Sassano, Salerno, Italy, near Naples, and came to America in 1939.

She grew up in Newark and attended school there, learning English and American culture and attaining her U.S. citizenship.

She married John Guidice in 1951 and they lived in North Arlington before moving to Livingston in 1960.

Mrs. Guidice worked at the Roma Restaurant, which her father owned, and later was a cocktail waitress at The Manor, where her husband served as Maitre’d.

Predeceased by her husband and her brother, John Cammarano, she was the mother of Frank (Karen), and Michael and Gina Guidice; the grandmother of six; and the greatgrandmother of five.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Robert Bitton, formerly of Livingston, died after a short battle with brain cancer, at home in Naples, Florida, on July 9. He was 81 years old.

Mr. Bitton was born at Beth Israel Hospital in Newark to Sydney and Bertha (Rabkin) Bitton. He graduated from Hillside High School in 1956 and from Rutgers University in 1960.

Mr. Bitton is survived by his wife of 60 years, Rhoda (Heiber); his sister, Maxine (née Bitton) Paris; his son, David (Meg) Bitton of Tenafly; his daughters, Michele Bitton of San Francisco, California, and Susan (David) Erdreich of Berkeley Heights; and four grandchildren.

He was CEO of Supreme Security Systems, Inc., a company his father started in 1929.

Graveside services were held on Sunday, July 12, at King Solomon Cemetery in Clifton. The family suggests that those who wish to remember Mr. Bitton may make a donation to the charity of their choice.

RECREATIONAL RENEWAL: With the township’s recreational facilities re-opened, Livingston residents made the most of the summery weather and headed outdoors. At top left, Emma and Elyse Pomerance have fun in the water at the Mervyn V.T. Haines Pool. Above, Adam Froimowitz pushes his son, Jake, on the “take a spin” equipment. At bottom left, Will McNichol shoots on the Memorial Park basketball courts, while his brother Luke looks on. Below, Pitcher Jason Grebin brings it to the plate during the TSTI practice on the Oval. Don Schwartz Photos

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Although the lady retired from Livingston politics nearly 40 years ago, her name is still known and fondly remembered throughout town: Doris L. Beck, our first female mayor. This week, we bid farewell to the former mayor and Township Councilwoman, who passed away on Sunday, July 12, at the age of 91. Her relocation to Florida in retirement represented a loss to Livingston then; her passing now marks an even greater loss – and the end of an era.

FIFTH GRADERS CELEBRATE MILESTONE: Unable to hold the traditional in-person “Moving Up” ceremonies for fifth graders this year, Mt. Pleasant Elementary School and the other district elementary schools instead celebrated the milestone with virtual gatherings and car parades. Mt. Pleasant Elementary School celebrated the end of the school year and the Moving Up of its 100 fifth graders with socially distanced ice c ream parties; a virtual Moving Up ceremony; a car parade; and professional photographs funded by th e PTA Fifth Grade Committee, which lifted the spirits of students, families and staff. Shown here, Alan Yaari waves during the MPE car parade. His mom, Carla Yaari, is taking a photo, and his Dad,Isaac Yaari, has the wheel. Additional photos may be seen on page B-4. Jodi Rothfeld Photography