West Essex Tribune

The number of Livingston residents with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, continues to rise, as do numbers across the county, state, country, and global population. Cases more than doubled in town in the past week, as some long-term care facilities have dealt with outbreaks.

As of Wednesday morning, April 8, the Essex County health department has reported that a total of 217 Livingston residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Eighteen of those residents have died as a result of the virus. In Essex County overall, there were 5,565 positive tests as of Wednesday morning. At least 276 county residents have died from complications related to COVID-19 as of that time.

Farmer and former Livingston resident Andy Goldman, who has temporarily returned to his hometown in between jobs on farms in upstate New York and eastern Pennsylvania, has been creating a garden for his mom at her home on North Baums Court. He advocates gardening as a perfect solution to the problem of obtaining fresh vegetables in a time of pandemic. “With social distancing becoming the new norm, a trip to the supermarket for fresh fruits and vegetables might make you hesitate,” he says. “But, Livingston’s climate makes for productive gardens that can give you a family’s worth of salads, vegetables, herbs, and much more. All you need is a portion of your yard, sunlight, water, and most of all, good soil.”

Soil, Not “Dirt”

Phyllis (O'Brien) Baker Rech of Granby, Connecticut, formerly of Livingston, died on Thursday, March 26. Born in 1923, she was raised in Baldwinsville, New York and graduated from Baldwinsville Academy in 1941.

Mrs. Rech graduated from Oswego State Teacher’s College in 1945 and taught first grade in Camden, New York and later in St. Louis County, Missouri, before staying home to raise her five children. A resident of Livingston for many years, Mrs. Rech was a member of the Livingston United Methodist Church and sang in the choir. She later moved to Fayetteville, New York.

Sandra Garb, 84, died on Sunday, April 5. She was born in Newark and was a long-time resident of Livingston.

Predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Martin Garb, and her brother, Marvin Warhaftig, she is survived by her two daughters, Mindy Garb of West Orange, and Randi Goldberg (Eliot) of Morganville; her son, Larry Garb (Stacey) of Towaco; her sister-in-law, Connie Cherenson (Lee) of Florham Park; and six grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that contributions in Mrs. Garb’s memory be made to the Friendship Circle of Central Jersey, 26 Wickatunk Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726 (www.friendsnj.com).

Funeral services will be private.

Donald Louis Guldner, Sr., a longtime resident of Livingston, died on April 2 at the age of 94. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Army’s 5th Infantry Red Diamond Division of Patton’s Third Army.

Mr. Guldner graduated from Pace University and became a certified public accountant, working as treasurer for Bates Manufacturing and Graulick Hotel Properties.

He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church of Livingston, active in the Livingston Old Guard, and supported the Livingston Historical Society, AARP, and ESL Program. In 2015 he joined the Crane’s Mill Community.

Mr. Guldner was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Beverly Jean Guldner, and is survived by his six children, Donald Guldner Jr., Kenneth Guldner (Linda), Robert Guldner (Meg), William Guldner (Jean), Dianne Grenz (Timothy), and Debbie Pavlo (Michael); 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Team UCLA defeated Team Syracuse to capture the fifth-sixth grade Livingston Recreation Girls’ Basketball League championship, held earlier this year at Mt. Pleasant Middle School. Shown here, the team includes, rear, Lexi Nelson, Ella Chai, Annie Ferrans, Josie Klein, and Bella Jenis; and front, Emma LaBrunda, Jayden Cohen, and Goldie Stein. Also on the team were Kylie Wong and Chloe Wright. The team was coached by Frank Klein and Michael Ferrans.

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The Livingston High School varsity ice hockey team concluded its season with ten wins, eight losses, and five ties. The team ranked seventh in the Public B State Tournament and reached the semi-finals in the conference tournament. Don Schwartz Photo

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Former Livingston resident Nancy C. Rall died in Warminster, Pennsylvania, on April 3. She was 89 years old.

Born in Newark, she was educated in the Orange school system, graduating in 1947. She was employed by the West Orange Board of Education from 1947 to 1963, serving as office secretary in the Hazel Avenue and Edison Junior High Schools. She later worked for the Township of Livingston in the Department of Recreation and Parks for over a decade.

A soprano, Mrs. Rall studied voice in New York City. She was a soloist in several local churches. She met her husband of 59 years, Fred Rall, at Kilburn Memorial Presbyterian Church in Newark, where they were choir members together.

Rose Feldman, 98, passed away peacefully at home on March 30. A resident of Livingston for over 50 years, Rose was predeceased by her husband Dr. Bernard Feldman DDS. She is survived by her three children, Barbara, Elliot, and Paul and his wife, Perri; and two grandchildren, Michelle and Daniel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Metropolitan Orchestra of New Jersey, of which Rose was a member for 45 years, at P.O. Box 155, Livingston, NJ, 07039.

While COVID-19 is undoubtedly the first, second, and third thing on most people’s minds lately, there is still other business to attend to, some of which necessitates public meetings. As a result, there have been several public Township Council and Board of Education meetings held while residents have been advised to stay home.

These meetings have been streamed live for anyone to see, ensuring that business continues and critical information is shared with residents, even if we cannot all currently occupy the same room. It’s not perfect, but it works, and we appreciate that everyone involved with staging these meetings understands the importance of public access to them.

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