In an effort to honor members of the university community who have passed away — including students, alumni, and active or retired faculty or staff — the Office of Marketing and Communications has introduced an In Memoriam section of our website for loved ones and friends to leave memories and tributes on NJCU.edu. In accordance with NJCU's new In Memoriam policy, this page is dedicated to honoring those graduates of New Jersey City University, Jersey City State College, New Jersey State Teachers College, and New Jersey State Normal School at Jersey City. When possible, we will link to obituaries, news articles or other sources to honor the deceased. If information is available, we will also list former students who did not complete their degrees.

If you would like to leave remembrances or tributes to the deceased, please complete our In Memoriam form.

If you would like to submit information for the In Memoriam page, please contact news@njcu.edu.

2024

John DiCesare '11 (B.A. in Sociology) of Lanoka Harbor, N.J., formerly of Lacey, passed away on January 5, 2024 at the age of 50. A United States Marine veteran, he served our country in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. | Obituary

Diana Crawford Jeffery '77, '94 M.A. of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on January 4, 2024 at the age of 69. She earned a B.A. in Elementary Education with K-5 certification and an M.A. in Urban Education/Urban Schools. She worked as a devoted educator for Jersey City Public Schools for over 32 years through 2010. She also taught Early Childhood Education at NJCU as an adjunct professor beginning in 2008. | Obituary
 

2023

Jamere Tyson '04 (B.A. in Media Arts), originally of Sewell, N.J., passed away on December 10, 2023 at the age of 43. A social worker, Jamere dedicated himself to noble causes, serving with the Volunteers of America in Philadelphia as a case worker. He was also a substitute teacher at Highland Regional High School in Gloucester Township and a football coach at Timber Creek High School in Gloucester Township. Jamere was a football student athlete at NJCU in the final years of the program. | Obituary

Ann F. Walsh of Plainfield, N.J. passed on December 14, 2023 at the age of 68. She worked for Bell Telephone and later Verizon. | Obituary

Lois E. Kruger (nee Bobinski) '71 (B.A. in Speech Correction Teacher) of East Brunswick, N.J. and formerly of Edison, passed away on June 13, 2023 at the age of 73. She worked as a learning disabilities teacher and school librarian for the South River Public Schools before her retirement in 1984. She was involved in many charitable organizations, including The New Jersey Association of the Deaf and Blind and the Lupus Foundation of New Jersey. | Obituary

Robert E. Tornquist '85 (B.A. in Business Administration) of Maplewood, N.J. passed away on June 7, 2023 at the age of 61. He worked as an accountant at HSBC, then as Vice President and Senior Controller for Royal Bank Of Canada in New York City. | Obituary

Patricia Lee Smith '77 (B.A. in Sociology) of Verona, N.J., passed away on June 3, 2023 at the age of 77. She worked for many years at Essex County Hospital (Overbrook) in Cedar Grove. | Obituary

Madeline R. Brown '93 (B.S. in Health Science - Public Health Education) of Union, N.J., and formerly of West Orange, N.J., passed away on June 2, 2023 at the age of 77. The matriarch of the Brown family, she was the wife of legendary retired NJCU men's basketball coach Charles Brown '65, '85 M.A. and the mother of current longtime Gothic Knight men's basketball coach Marc Brown. A consummate professional and community advocate, she led a noteworthy career in public and community health. After beginning her nursing career at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, N.Y. and then later Columbus Hospital in Newark, N.J., she would serve for 20 years as director of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for the City of Jersey City. After her retirement, she continued to serve the community by helping young children at the Urban League of Jersey City and the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition in Paterson, N.J. She also contributed to the First Baptist Church of South Orange, N.J. | Obituary

Margaret "Peggy" Farrell (nee O'Brien) of Freehold, N.J. passed away on May 25, 2023 at the age of 96. During World War II, she trained as a nurse in Jersey City, where she graduated from Jersey City State College and worked at Margaret Hague Hospital. After moving to Freehold, she was a school nurse at Freehold High School for 26 years. A national advocate for suicide prevention, she was a Chair of the NJ Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Peggy organized the first-ever Survivor's Day Conference. She was inducted into the Freehold High School Hall of Fame in 2007. | Obituary

Eileen Sardella '68 (nee Ziegler) (B.A. in Special Education/Early Childhood Education) of Hamilton, N.J. passed away on May 19, 2023 at the age of 76. "Miss Eileen," as she was affectionately called, was a preschool teacher at the Kiel School for many years before her retirement in 1986. | Obituary

William “Bill” Merten '63 (B.A. in Mathematics) of of Falmouth and Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and formerly of Irvington and Franklin Township, N.J., passed away on May 15, 2023 at the age of 81 1/2. After earning his degree in Mathematics, he ultimately earning an M.A. in Reading Education. He spent his entire 40-year teaching career as an educator in the Township of Union, N.J. school system. For 20 years, he also taught an Algebra class every afternoon at Solomon Schechter Day School in Cranford, N.J. In a life of service, he was a Quakertown Volunteer Fire Department member, and served on the Franklin Township Board of Education for five years, among other activities. | Obituary

Joseph L. Makowski '75 (B.A. in Sociology) of Bayonne, N.J. passed away on May 13, 2023 at the age of 77. He was a long-time civic leader as a member of the Bayonne City Council, and former president of the council. In May 2022, the city dedicated a park located at 28th Street and Avenue F as "Makowski Park" in honor of the service of Joseph and his late father who both served on the city council and other positions in city government. He was elected to public office as Second Ward Councilman in 1982 and served three terms in that capacity before being elected as Councilman-At-Large in 1994, before being selected to serve as Council President by his peers. As a student at Jersey City State, he was a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the National Sociology Honor Society. | News Story from TAPinto

Marilyn Polomski (nee Mozzi) '69 (B.A. in Kindergarten/Primary Education)~~ of River Vale, N.J. passed away on May 12, 2023 at the age of 76. A former educator and animal lover, her husband and Gothic Sweetheart, Raymond Polomski '69, is an NJCU alumnus. | Obituary

Joyce C. Wittish '70 (B.A. in Elementary Education) of Eugene, Ore. and formerly of Bloomfield and Scotch Plains, N.J., passed away on May 9, 2023 at the age of 74. She was a former educator and substitute teacher. | Obituary

Erika L. Isler '17 (B.S. in Finance and National Security Studies (double major)) of Windsor Mill, Md., passed away on May 7, 2023 at the age of 35. While at NJCU, she was one of five students that traveled to India to represent the school and present on how corporations could become more socially responsible. Since 2021, she served as a grant specialist for the Mayor's office in Baltimore City. | Obituary | Homecoming Tribute (pdf)

Michele A. Daniels-Jimenez '05 (nee Smith) (B.S. in Psychology) of Bayonne, N.J., passed away on April 30, 2023 at the age of 65. She was a long-time employee of the  U.S. Postal Service in Kearny, N.J. | Obituary

Susan Carol George '73 (B.A. in History) of Belford, N.J., passed away on April 29, 2023 at the age of 71. She graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into the national college historical honor society, Phi Alpha Theta. She taught at JFK High School in Iselin before ending her career at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel. Her husband and Gothic Sweetheart, Jack George '73, is an NJCU alumnus. | Obituary

Grace Juanita Taetzsch '76 (nee Sammons) (B.A. in Health Science) of Carol Stream, Ill., and formerly of Cheswold, Del., Newark, N.J., Basking Ridge, N.J., West Sand Lake, N.Y., Erie, Pa., Schenectady, N.Y. and El Paso, Texas passed away on April 24, 2023 at the age of 92. After earning her R.N. degree from Bloomfield College in 1951, 'Nita' later returned to nursing at Elizabeth General Hospital and completed her B.S. in Health Education at Jersey City State College in 1976. She worked as a school nurse in the Elizabeth and Bedminster, N.J. school systems. | Obituary

Eve Blum (nee Tartalsky) '51 (B.A. in Education) of Freehold, N.J., and formerly of North Arlington, Verona, Montclair, and Manchester, N.J., passed away on April 19, 2023 at the age of 93. She was an educator in Carlstadt, Verona, and the Tutoring Center of Montclair. In 1944 during World War II, she was a member of the Women's Land Army. | Obituary

Christine "Chrissi" Dobson (nee Kostka) '10 (BSN in Nursing-Accelerated Program) of Forked River, N.J. and formerly of Montville, N.J. passed away on April 14, 2023 at the age of 41 after a battle with cancer. At NJCU, she was inducted in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Christine earned the Mary Anne Rooney Essence of Nursing Award and served as the President Sigma Theta Tau. She served as a nurse prior to her illness. | Obituary

Arthur Godt of Delray Beach, Fla., formerly of Fair Lawn, N.J. and Lakewood, N.J. passed away on March 24, 2023 at the age of 85. He was a former educator, mainly in Paterson and Passaic, focusing on special education. | Obituary

Carol M. [Goodman] Conroy '72 (B.A. in Sociology) of Kearny, N.J. passed away on March 23, 2023 at the age of 86. | Obituary | News

Judith Hartop (nee Jacobs) '80 (B.A. in English) of Glen Ridge, N.J., formerly of Verona, passed away on March 21, 2023 at the age of 65. She is former Senior Editor at the American Kennel Club before moving into education. | Obituary

June Marie Mellott (nee Brunner) '82 (M.A. in Nursing Science) of Stroudsburg, Pa. and also of Manahawkin, N.J. passed away on March 10, 2023 at the age of 89. She was a school nurse for 40 years in the Kearny and Clifton, N.J. public school systems. | Obituary

Gail Guenther Funk '71 (B.A. in Elementary Education) of Belford, N.J., formerly of Jersey City, passed away March 8, 2023 at the age of 73. She was a preschool teacher at Rumson Country Day School for 24 years. | Obituary

Ronald J. Szymanski '81 (B.A.) of Howell Township, N.J., formerly of Jersey City, passed away on February 27, 2023 at the age of 69. He worked for the US Postal Service, retiring after 36 years as a Supervisor. He coached basketball for St. Paul of the Cross and Our Lady of Victories in Jersey City. After relocating to Howell Township he continued to coach in the Howell Township Public Schools, Howell Pop Warner Football, Recreational Basketball, Soccer, Softball, and Little League. He also served as a substitute teacher for the Howell Public Schools. | Obituary

Mary Jane Copenhaver (née Lalevée) of Millville and North Wildwood, N.J., passed away on February 17, 2023 at the age of 84. She was a long-time educator and administrator in the Millville Public School District, where she founded and was in charge of the Bilingual and ESL programs that were deemed among the top five programs in New Jersey by the NJ Department of Education/Division of Bilingual Education. She attended the university as part of her additional 60 credits in post-graduate studies. | Obituary

Mary Jane Bergen (nee Schmitt) '70 (B.A. and M.A. in Mathematics) of Scotch Plains, N.J., passed away on February 10, 2023 at the age of 74. A mathematics educator, she later became a testing coordinator, then supervisor and director of K-12 math testing before moving into administration as the principal at Livingston Elementary School in Union, N.J. | Obituary

Philip Gelormine '72 (B.A. in English, Concentration in Mass Communication) of Somerville, N.J. passed away on February 10, 2023 at the age of 75. He was a writer/photographer for both Billboard Magazine and United Feature Syndicate. He founded ELVIS WORLD magazine in 1978. | Obituary

Desmond Anthony Gomes of East Hanover, N.J. passed away suddenly on February 10, 2023 at the age of 32. He studied Biology at NJCU beginning in 2010. His wife and Gothic Sweetheart, Amy Chu-Fong '14 (B.A. in Psychology), is also an NJCU alumna. | Obituary

Todd R. Schwartzman '88 (B.S. in Marketing) of Boonton, N.J. passed away on February 9, 2023 at the age of 60 after a battle with stomach cancer. A member of the NJCU Lawrence R. Schiner Athletics Hall of Fame as the starting center on the 1985-86 Jersey City State College men's basketball Final Four team — the first athletic team at NJCU to ever reach a Final Four — Schwartzman and his teammates were inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020. He was a beloved four-year member of the basketball program (1984-88) and scored 689 points and grabbed 583 rebounds in 104 career games for the green and gold. His teammates nicknamed him “Mr. Hustle”, “The Aircraft Carrier”, and “Todd Monster”. He played one season professionally after graduation. | Obituary

Temara King '11 (B.A. in Early Childhood Education P-3, Teacher Certification in P-3 & Special Education, and Sociology) of Jersey City, N.J. passed away on January 24, 2023 at the age of 35. A third grade teacher at Public School Number 5 on Merseles Street in Jersey City, she was allegedly a tragic victim of domestic violence per news reports. | NBC News Report

Helen M. Vallonchini '77 (B.A. in Elementary Education) of Glen Rock, N.J., formerly of Weehawken, passed away on January 22, 2023 at the age of 84. She was a teacher in the North Bergen school system. | Obituary

Francis (Frank) J. Bernardo '69 of Dumont, N.J. passed away on January 20, 2023 at the age of 76. He taught chemistry for 39 years at Hackensack (N.J.) High School, where he coached the girls volleyball program for 25 years, and later boys volleyball. | Obituary

Rita Margaret Sprague (nee Pavick) '66 (B.A. in Health Education) of Lexington, Kentucky, passed away on January 12, 2023 at the age of 99. She was born on December 29, 1923. She served as a U.S. Army nurse during World War II, and achieved the rank of 2nd Lt. After military service before earning a degree from Jersey City State. She later was a teaching and school nurse in New Jersey. | Obituary

Dr. James Jay Markey III '04 (B.A. in Sociology and Teacher Certification in Elementary Education K-5) of Bayonne, N.J. passed away on January 10, 2023 at the age of 49. He was in the process of pursuing a doctorate in Educational Technology from NJCU. A former adjunct professor at NJCU, he worked for the Jersey City Board of Education for 20 years in various roles, including classroom teacher, crisis intervention teacher, mathematics supervisor, and his most recent role as Supervisor of Communications. | Obituary

Clarence E. Hilliard '78 (B.A.) of Bayonne, N.J. passed away on January 8, 2023 at the age of 70. He was a police officer and later detective in the Jersey City Police Department. He was part of the security detail for former Mayor Jeramiah Healy and worked as a Clerk in the Chief's Office under three different Police Chiefs. He also was an adjunct professor at FDU. He served several years as President of the Bayonne Branch of the NAACP. | Obituary

Harvey N. Weiss '60 (B.A. in Secondary Education; Minor in Mathematics) of Hewitt, N.J., passed away on January 4, 2023 at the age of 84. He was a longtime beloved educator at Ridgefield Memorial High School. The Harvey Weiss Scholarship at NJCU is named in his honor. | Obituary

Gloria Margherita Spadaro (nee Tartaglia) '81 (B.S. in Health Education and School Nursing) of Marlboro, N.J., and formerly of Elmwood Park, N.J., passed away on January 3, 2023, at the age of 82. She was a founding member of the Lupus Foundation of NJ and worked tirelessly on research funding and education, holding various positions including president. | Obituary

2022

James Edward Lambert '68 (B.A. in Special Education) of The Villages, Fla., formerly of Plainfield, N.J., passed away on December 29, 2022, at the age of 77. He taught for more than 35 years at Cook Elementary School in Plainfield and Plainfield High School, and was a member of the faculty at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains. He was named Teacher of The Year multiple times during his career at Plainfield High. He also was a varsity baseball coach at Holy Trinity High School in Westfield, served as the varsity baseball coach at Plainfield High School, coached football, softball and girls’ soccer at Plainfield High, and was a baseball coach at Union Catholic. He was also a long-time certified referee in basketball, track and field, volleyball, tennis, and swimming. | Obituary

Paul James "Pops" Urso (M.A. in Elementary Education) of of Gilbert, Arizona and formerly of Florham Park, N.J. passed away on December 27, 2022, at the age of 81. He taught fifth grade at Peshine Avenue Elementary School in Newark from 1966 until his retirement in 2008. | Obituary

Hinda Jane Pollack (nee Chasis) '61 (B.A. in Secondary Education) of Dripping Springs, Texas, formerly of Jersey City and Westfield, N.J., passed away on December 23, 2022, at the age of 83. She was a special education teacher at the A. Harry Moore School in Jersey City. Her late husband, Kenneth Pollack '62, earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from the university. | Obituary

Judith Scarnecchia (nee Pavero) '61 (B.A. in Elementary Education K-5) of Waretown, N.J., formerly of Weehawken, N.J., Bergen County, N.J., and West Nyack, N.Y. passed away on December 20, 2022, at the age of 83. She was a teacher at the Weehawken Elementary School, and later in schools in Bergen County and Washingtonville, N.Y. She was a Gothic sweetheart to John M. Scarnecchia '61, who died in 2009. | Obituary

Marie Bozzone (nee Pacifico) '59 (B.A.) and '62 (M.A.) in Elementary Education), of Paramus, N.J., passed away on December 15, 2022, at the age of 85. She was an elementary school teacher for 39 years in the Union City Public School system, and later in Edison, N.J. | Obituary

Alice Pachon (nee Stinson) '68 (B.A. in Elementary Education) of Port St. Lucie, Fla., formerly of Hillsdale and Washington Twp., N.J., passed away on December 14, 2022, at the age of 76. She taught English for more than 30 years in Jersey City, and later at the St. John the Baptist School in Hillsdale and Yavneh Academy in Paramus. | Obituary

Doris H. Pacholok '53 (B.S. in Education) of Pinecrest, Fla. and Cranford, N.J., passed away on December 12, 2022, at the age of 91 — just 10 days shy of her 92nd birthday. She was a graduate of then-Jersey City State Teachers College, and was a primary grade teacher for many years. | Obituary

Antoinette DePalma of Hoboken, N.J. passed away on December 9, 2022. She sang soprano for almost 40 years with the Collegiate Chorale, a New York City-based professional chorus. | Obituary

Grayce Murphy (nee Manetti) '71 (B.A. in Health Education and School Nursing) of Delray Beach, Fla., formerly of Bayonne, N.J., passed away on December 9, 2022, at the age of 86. She worked as a nurse in the Maternity Ward of Bayonne Hospital, then as the school nurse and health teacher at Marist High School, and was the school nurse of Roosevelt School. | Obituary

Leah-Anne Schnapp '91 (B.A. in Elementary Education and History) of Ostrander, Ohio, and formerly of Jersey City and North Bergen, N.J, passed away on December 5, 2022, at the age of 66. | Obituary

Morris A. Leone '70 (B.A. in English Education; Certification as a Secondary School Teacher of English) of Linden, N.J. and formerly of Lodi, N.J. passed away on December 4, 2022, at the age of 74. A long-time teacher in the Linden School System, he taught English at the Joseph E. Soehl Middle School for 15 years in 7th, 8th and 9th grades, before moving to Linden High School in 1985, and Myles J. McManus School where he taught 8th grade English from 1991-2010. | Obituary

Harry C. Reddington '53 (B.A. in Education) of Nutley, N.J. passed away on December 4, 2022, at the age of 91. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War as part of the 3rd Army Signal Corps. He was a teacher in the Nutley school system, as a sixth grade teacher in Washington School, a remedial reading teacher, and a learning disabilities specialist. | Obituary

Tiffany Lola Rawls-Dill (nee Wilder) '12 (B.S. in Managament and Marketing) of Tinton Falls, N.J., formerly of Neptune, passed away on December 3, 2022, at the age of 46. She was married to NJCU alumnus Dr. Elford Rawls-Dill ’00. | Obituary

Carole K. Killeen (nee Koetter) '64 (B.A. in Health Education and School Nursing) of Millville, N.J. passed away on December 2, 2022, at the age of 80. For many years she worked as a Registered Nurse for hospitals in the maternity department, ICU and the psychiatric ward and later served 25 years as a school nurse including with the Millville Board of Education. She was a Gothic sweetheart of the late Michael Killeen '65. | Obituary

Nancy E. Reilly Zollo '71 (B.A. in Elementary Education) of Belleville, N.J. passed away on December 1, 2022, at the age of 72. She taught in the Kearny school systems as an elementary school teacher. | Obituary

Edward McGrath of Bayonne, N.J. passed away on November 28, 2022. He attended Jersey City State in Fall 1975. | Obituary

Barbara Skowronski (nee Williams) '95 (B.S.N.) and '03 (M.S.) of Bayonne, N.J. passed away on November 25, 2022, at the age of 65. She practiced nursing in Bayonne Hospital for over 20 years and retired from the Jersey City Board of Education in 2017. Her husband Jerry Skowronski '77, and daughters Kristy Skowronski '06 and Lacey Skowronski '09 are all graduates of the university; Kristy and Lacey are former NJCU softball standouts. | Obituary

Karen Ann Fahrenholz (nee Neuhoff) '67 (B.A. in Education) of Sea Bright, N.J., and formerly of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on November 24, 2022, at the age of 77. She taught in the Jersey City school system for 39 years before retiring in 2008. She was a trustee for the Hudson County Community College for the past 14 years. | Obituary

Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Sister Audrey Moloughney '73, (M.A. in Counseling; Student Personnel Services), formerly Sister Maria Madonna, of Convent Station, N.J., passed away on November 21, 2022 at the age of 87. Formerly of Jersey City, N.J., she was the oldest of 10 siblings. Through her life she was an educator and an alcoholism counselor in New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, and the Virgin Islands. | Obituary

Cherylbeth Miedowski Martin '80 (B.S. in Biology) of Bayonne, N.J. passed away on November 22, 2022. She devoted her life to caring for animals working for Bergen County animal control. | Obituary

Roberta Betz Gilmartin '70 (B.A. and M.A. in Elementary Education) of Jersey City, N.J. passed away on November 21, 2022 at the age of 74. She was a teacher in the Jersey City Public School System for 40 years at both PS #20 and MS #40. | Obituary

Patricia Taranto (nee Rainey) '75 (B.A. in Health Sciences) of Stockholm, N.J., passed away on November 20, 2022 at the age of 85. She was a long-time school nurse, guidance counselor, and student assistance coordinator in the Bloomingdale, Cedar Grove, Sussex Vo-Tech and Newton school systems. | Obituary

Jose F. Cruz '99 (B.S. in Fire Science) of Orlando, Fla., formerly of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on November 19, 2022, at the age of 68. A former Jersey City Fire Department Battalion Chief who aided in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks as a a member of the search & rescue teams working at the World Trade Center, Cruz was also an amateur, and later, a professional boxer. He competed in the 1970s as part of the U.S. team, and had nearly 80 boxing bouts as a middleweight boxer. Cruz worked for the city as a health inspector and later continued to box even after he was sworn in as a firefighter in 1981, where he rose to the rank of battalion chief. He also served as deputy director and public information officer for the department from 2001 to 2004. He also traveled to Haiti and Puerto Rico on rescue and recovery missions after natural disasters. | Tapinto News | Hudson County View news

Janette Leber (nee Wybrandt) '77 (B.A. in Education) of Paramus, N.J., formerly of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on November 13, 2022 at the age of 73. She taught for the Jersey City Board of Education for most of her career and before retiring with the Westwood Board of Education. | Obituary

Felicia P. Sahli '71 (B.A. in Health Education and School Nursing) of Branchburg, N.J., formerly of Bayonne, N.J., passed away on November 13, 2022 at the age of 80. A retired registered nurse, she was the former head nurse for the Occupational Center of Union County for 20 years. | Obituary

Ruth P. Grover (nee Maurer) '67 (B.A. in Education) of Sayreville, N.J. passed away on November 12, 2022 at the age of 76. She taught in the Old Bridge School System and at Our Lady of Victories in
Sayreville, the majority teaching Middle School math and religious studies. | Obituary

Paul T. Jamolawicz '84 (B.S. in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement) of Berkeley Heights, N.J., a captain in the Bayonne Police Department, passed away suddenly while on duty on November 11, 2022 at the age of 61. He was a 37-year veteran of the department. He was promoted captain in February 2018, lieutenant in 2013, and sergeant in 1999, and worked in the patrol division, detective bureau, the narcotics unit, and the internal affairs unit throughout his career. He was the recipient of three commendations and seven Excellent Police Service Awards. He also was a business owner in Bayonne. | Obituary |  Hudson County View story | NJ101.5 | FOX 5 NY | Fox News | PIX 11 | ABC 7 Eyewitness News | CBS News | Tapinto News

Cora Zakrzewski (nee Rowan) '77 (B.A. in Education) of Bogota, N.J. passed away on November 10, 2022 at the age of 84. She worked as a nurse for 41 years, including at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. | Obituary

Marion Benjamin of Orange, N.J. passed away on November 9, 2022 at the age of 93. A former teacher in Orange, she was a former graduate student at Jersey City State. | Obituary

Betty Louise Scott of Neptune, N.J., passed away on November 9, 2022 at the age of 81. | Obituary 

Lawrence Curtis "Larry" Coleman of Crescent City, Fla., formerly of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on November 7, 2022 at the age of 67. He was a U.S. Army veteran, earning numerous medals. | Obituary

Shohreh Shirvani Andresky '04 (M.A. in Mathematics Education) of Caldwell, N.J. passed away suddenly on November 2, 2022 at the age of 64. Born in Iran, she emigrated to the United States in 1977 and was a mathematics professor at Essex County College for 25 years. | Obituary

Yvonne Theresa Goodson (nee Roberts) '79 (B.S. in Criminal Justice; Minor in Pre-Law) of Jacksonville, Fla., formerly of the Bronx, N.Y., passed away on November 1, 2022 at the age of 64. She worked in the NYC District Attorney's office, the FBI, and for most of her career, in homeless services. | Obituary 

Kénel Hyppolite of Jersey City, N.J., formerly of Haiti, died in November, 2022 (exact date not published) at the age of 66. | Obituary

Mark M. Arias '80 (B.A. and M.A. in History) of Manchester, N.J., formerly of Bayonne, N.J., passed away on October 30, 2022 at the age of 64. He was a teacher of ESL students for the Bayonne School system. | Obituary

Alexander S. Biro '70 (B.A. in Music Education) of Clifton, N.J., passed away on October 29, 2022 at the age of 74. He was a microbiologist and freelance musician prior to his retirement. | Obituary

Julie Rose Gottstein (Miskolczi) '73 (B.A. in Health Education and School Nursing) of Edison, N.J., passed away on October 26, 2022 at the age of 80. She worked as a Registered Nurse in private practice, hospitals, and schools and was a speaker for the American Parkinson's Disease Association. | Obituary

Dr. William Kennedy Venino '63 and M.A. '65 (B.A. in Social Science), of Belmar, N.J., formerly of Orange, N.J., passed away on October 23, 2022 at the age of 83. A 1986 inductee into the Lawrence R. Schiner NJCU Athletics Hall of Fame in the sport of men's basketball, Bill scored 997 career points in only two and a half seasons. Considered one of the greatest players of his era at the college, he was a two-time First-Team All-NJSCAC selection in both 1961 and 1963 when he set several JCSC scoring and assist records. He helped lead JCSC to the first of its record 13 conference championships during the 1960-61 campaign. A former teacher, he later served as an adjunct college professor, school psychologist, counselor, chief psychologist, and licensed clinical psychologist in private practice. He was married to Gothic sweetheart Brenda Venino ‘65. | Obituary

Charles Anthony Manzella '74 (B.A. Education and M.A. in Education with LDTC and supervisor certification), of South Windsor, Conn., formerly of Pine Brook, N.J., passed away on October 20, 2022 at the age of 70. He began his career as a special education teacher in the Newark Public Schools system in 1974 and retired as the principal of the New Jersey Regional Day School in 2011. | Obituary

Gail M. Werthwein (Fitzpatrick) of Edison, N.J. formerly of Carteret, N.J., passed away on October 20, 2022 at the age of 68. She spent 40 years as an accountant with the Wakefern Food Corporation | Obituary

Alfred Joseph Dichiara Jr. '69 (B.A. in English) of Jackson, S.C., and formerly of Bayonne, N.J., passed away on October 17, 2022 at the age of 75. A former United States Marine and member of its Delta Forces who served tours in Vietnam, he later taught at Long Branch High School and later became a police officer for 16 years with the Long Branch Police Department. | Obituary

Frederick A. McLaughlin III, passed away on October 17, 2022 at the age of 73. A United States Army and Air Force veteran, he was born in Maine, raised in Maryland and lived in 13 states until settling in New Jersey. He studied in NJCU's graduate program towards a Certificate of Teacher of the Handicapped. | Obituary

Olga Medvigy '66 (B.A. in Nursing) of Carteret, N.J. passed away on October 15, 2022 at the age of 95. She served as a nurse at the former Perth Amboy General Hospital (now known as Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Medical Center) before later moving to John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison as associate director of nursing. | Obituary

Lisa Cerbone '80 (B.A. in Special Education) of Bayonne and Lake Como, N.J., passed away on October 14, 2022 at the age of 63. She was a long-time special education educator at Bayonne High School | Obituary

Irwin Kreisberg '83 (B.A. in Criminal Justice, Fire Safety, Security Administration) of Rahway, N.J., passed away on October 14, 2022 at the age of 74. He worked for the Rahway Fire Department for 26 years and retired in 1998 as a Battalion Chief. | Obituary

Gregory Velardi '85 (B.S. in Criminal Justice, Fire Safety, Security Administration) of Wayne, N.J., passed away on October 14, 2022, at the age of 60. He spent 42 years as a Wayne Fire Company #2 life member, where he was its past chief and president and served as Wayne's township fire official. | News story | Obituary

Anne Brodowski Jablonski of Lincoln, Del. passed away on October 14, 2022, one day after her 70th birthday. | Obituary

Janet Hedy Jelenski '66 (B.A. in Elementary Education/Kindergarten primary) of Westwood, N.J. passed away on October 12, 2022, at the age of 78. She was a former elementary school teacher at the Spring Garden School in Nutley, N.J. | Obituary

MaryAnn Ingentio '60 (B.A. in Education) of North Arlington, N.J. passed away on October 12, 2022, at the age of 91. She taught in the North Arlington School System for 17 years. | Obituary

Meta Elizabeth Brown Seltzer '65 (B.A. in Nursing) of Navarre, Fla. passed away on October 12, 2022, at the age of 87. | Obituary

Susan Thoms '70 (B.A. in Early Childhood Education) of Toms River, N.J. passed away on October 10, 2022, at the age of 74. She was a teacher at Our Lady of Victories Parish School and later in the Toms River school system. | Obituary

Donald R. Chinery ‘61 (B.A. in Sociology) of Oradell, N.J. passed away on October 8, 2022, at the age of 87. | Obituary

David Joseph Travis, Sr. of Lyons, N.J. passed away on October 8, 2022 at the age of 87. He was a retired Major in the U.S. Army and former Science High School (Newark, N.J.) teacher. | Obituary

John William Curran, ‘76 (B.S. in Criminal Justice) of Melrose, Mass. and formerly a lifelong resident of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on October 2, 2022, at the age of 88. He served 34 years in the Jersey City Police Department, retiring as captain. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in memory of John be made to the New Jersey City University Foundation njcu.ejoinme.org/giving | Obituary

Duncan Edward Walton, ‘06 Honorary (Doctor of Humane Letters) of Oak Bluffs, Mass. and formerly of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on September 30, 2022, at the age of 94. He was honored with an Honorary Degree and was a guest speaker at NJCU's 2006 Commencement ceremonies, in recognition of his work advancing human rights. | Obituary

Johanna "Jody" Longo ‘72 (B.A. in Elementary Education) of Nutley, N.J. and formerly of Jersey City, passed away on September 29, 2022, at the age of 72. She served more than three decades as an educator in the Jersey City Public Schools at PS 34, where she taught first through third grades and earned Teacher of the Year on three occasions. | Obituary

Joan S. (Feltz) Gardiner of East Hanover, N.J., passed away on September 18, 2022, at the age of 80. She studied Elementary Education at Jersey City State and later authored two children’s learning books: Rocco: Please Somebody Notice Me and Rocco: I Wish, I Wish, I Wish. | Obituary

Carol Marotta Gladitsch (non-degree alum; courses only) of Lakewood, N.J., formerly of Jersey City, N.J., passed on September 17, 2022, at the age of 86. She worked in occupational health at Citibank in Manhattan. | Obituary

Vita Tina' Morelli, ‘70, of San Diego, Calif. passed away on September 14, 2022, at the age of 73. She earned a B.A. in Special Education. | Obituary

Marie E. Ubelhart (nee O’Grady), ‘51, of Wilkes-Barre Township, Pa., formerly of Westwood, N.J., passed away on September 14, 2022, at the age of 93. She earned a B.A. in Early Childhood Education. Her late husband, Joseph P. Ubelhart ‘51, was inducted into the Lawrence R. Schiner Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987. | Obituary

George J. Hagopian, ‘63, of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on September 4, 2022, at the age of 85. He earned a B.A. in English Education. | Obituary

KimAnh Nguyen of Lafayette, N.J., formerly of Vietnam, passed away on September 2, 2022, at the age of 87. She earned a teaching certification from Jersey City State College after coming to the United States in 1989. | Obituary

Joseph Edward Toscano '99 (B.A. in English-Creative Writing) of Little Silver, N.J. and formerly of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on July 26, 2022, at the age of 50. | Obituary

Lorraine Calvo, ‘00, of Union City, N.J., passed away on February 12, 2022, at the age of 53. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and minored in Early Childhood Education. | Obituary

John J. Moore ‘56 (B.A. in Education), the former Chairman of the Jersey City State and NJCU Board of Trustees, Chair Emeritus and Athletics Hall of Famer, died on January 14, 2022. One of the most influential alumni and leaders in NJCU’s history since arriving on campus in 1952, Moore was 88. He was inducted into the Lawrence R. Schiner Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989, and the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center was dedicated in his honor in December 2004. | Read the full tribute on NJCU.edu | Obituary

Noreen Felicia Feehan, ‘63 (B.A. in English), a lifelong resident of Jersey City, N.J., passed away on January 12, 2022, at the age of 80. She was a teacher and administrator at Ferris and Lincoln High Schools and principal at Jonathan Wakeman School (PS 6). | Obituary

2021

Bari Khalek ‘99 M.A. (Special Education and English as a second language) and ‘05 M.A. (Urban Education in Bilingual/Bicultural Education) of Union, N.J., formerly of Cairo, Egypt and France, died on December 15, 2021 at the age of 72. | Obituary

Nicholas Anthony Cuccarese ‘63 (B.A. in Elementary Education) and ‘65 (M.A. in Elementary Education) of Annapolis, Md., formerly of Brick and Union City, N.J., died on December 11, 2021 at the age of 81. He played baseball at then Jersey City State from 1960-62 and was a member of the Gothics 1962 New Jersey State Athletic Conference championship team — the only baseball team at NJCU to ever win a conference title. He wife Barbara is a 1962 JCSC graduate. | Obituary

Arlene Dreyfus Furman ‘66 (B.A. in Elementary Education) of Aventura, Fla. and formerly of West Long Branch and Jersey City, N.J, died on December 9, 2021 at the age of 76. | Obituary | Obituary

Gevonder Washington Dupree of Jersey City, N.J. died on December 6, 2021, at the age of 62. She was a one-year member of the Jersey City Board of Education. | Obituary

Charlotte Theresa "Reisy" Dittrich (nee Ryer) ‘69 (B.A. in Elementary Education) of Bayonne, N.J. died on December 2, 2021 at the age of 74. | Obituary

Marie Elaine Elia (nee Anderson) ‘84 ‘94 M.A. (B.A. in Special Education; Minor in Sociology) of Manahawkin, N.J. died on December 2, 2021 at the age of 78. | Obituary

Kristy Ann Schaub ‘94 (B.A. in Sociology) of Bridgewater Township, N.J. died on December 1, 2021 at the age of 51. | Obituary

Elizabeth Jackson ‘76 (B.A. and M.A. in Education) of Bradley Beach, N.J. died on November 29, 2021 at the age of 67. | Obituary

Carol Jean Winston of Linden, N.J. died on November 29, 2021 at the age of 75. | Obituary

Audrey M. Wolff (nee Hamilton) (Registered Nursing degree) of Closter, N.J. died on November 29, 2021 at the age of 89. | Obituary

Paul Michael Jakupcionis ‘78 M.A. of Edison, N.J. died on November 26, 2021 at the age of 70. | Obituary

Rita C. McKeon ‘71 ‘90 M.A. (B.S. in Nursing and M.A. in Nursing Education) of Bayonne, N.J. died on November 23, 2021 at the age of 74. The alumna was also a former adjunct professor of Health Sciences. In 2006, she was awarded the NJCU Distinguished School Nurse Alumna of the Year Award. | Obituary

Kevin "Buster" Selby of Jersey City, N.J. died on November 23, 2021. | Obituary

Robert E. Maslo ‘67 (B.A. in Sociology) of Piscataway, N.J. died on November 22, 2021 at the age of 79. Mas was a popular University Administrator at Kean University in Union, retiring in 2006. Maslo was a 1988 inductee into the NJCU Athletics Hall of Fame in the sports of men's basketball and football; he was co-founder of the club football team in 1966, which later became varsity. | Obituary

Ethel Venita Simmons ‘75 (B.A. in Education) of East Orange, N.J. died on November 22, 2021 at the age of 91. | Obituary

Sister Leo Veronica Cassotta ‘72 M.A. (in Reading Specialist) died on November 19, 2021 at the age of 92. She was a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. | Obituary

Thomas A. Briscoe ‘67 (B.A. in History) and ‘69  (M.A.) of Naples, Fla., formerly of Kearny, N.J. and Spring Lake, N.J., died on November 18, 2021 at the age of 79. Arguably the greatest men's soccer player in the history of NJCU, he was inducted as a charter member of the NJCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979. | Obituary | NJ.com Feature | Hall-of-Fame Tribute on NJCUGothicKnights.com

Richard McCormack ‘82 (B.A. in Biology) of Jersey City, N.J., a talented local photographer, member of the Jersey City Zoning Board of Adjustment, and a well-known behind the scenes political figure, died in November 2021 at the age of 62. | News | NJ.com

Anna Reppermund (nee Curran) ‘89 (M.A. in Mathematics Education + 30) of Howell, N.J. died on November 12, 2021 at the age of 81. | Obituary

Margaret (Peg) R. Van Gilst ‘72 (B.A. in Health Education and School Nursing) of West Milford, N.J. died on October 22, 2021 at the age of 92. | Obituary

John Thomas Cogelia, Jr. “Jackie” ‘79 (B.S. in Economics), formerly of Kearny and Secaucus, N.J. passed away in October, 2021 at the age of 71. | Obituary

Paul F. LaPilusa ‘86 (B.A. in Music), originally of Bayonne, N.J. died on October 18, 2021 at age 60. | Obituary

Joanne Calderone (nee Chwalk) ‘05 (B.A. in Special Education) of Jersey City, N.J. died on October 14, 2021 at age 67. | Obituary

Maria C. Burt (nee Perez) ‘66 (B.A. in Sociology) of Barnegat, N.J. and Bradenton, Fla., formerly of Belmar, N,J., died on September 4, 2021 at age 74. | Obituary

Dr. Trudy Edelist Lipowsky (B.S. in Pre-Med; minors in chemistry and philosophy) of State College, Pa., died on August 15, 2021 at age 74. | Obituary

Florence Padlowski (nee Zbylut), of Bayonne, N.J., died on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at age 98. | Obituary

Janet Marie De Meo (nee Esposito) ‘77 (Bachelor of Science), formerly of Staten Island, N.Y. died on August 8, 2021 at age 91 | Obituary

Helene V. Buchanan ‘53 of Oradell, N.J., died of July 30, 2021 at age 88. | Obituary

Patricia Hussey ‘75 (B.A. in English and Secondary Education), of Jersey City, N.J., died of July 30, 2021. | Obituary

Evelyn Alydia Trovinger (née Schuler) ‘45 (Bachelor of Science) of Hagerstown, Md., died on July 24, 2021 at age 97. | Obituary | News

Allison Duffy ‘02 (B.A. in Psychology) of Logan, Utah (formerly of Bayonne, N.J.), died on July 20, 2021 at age 41. | Obituary

Rose Florio (née DeLuca) ‘75 (B.S.N) of North Arlington, N.J., died on July 16, 2021 at age 96. | Obituary

Barbara Jean Eldridge (née Nacnodivitz) ‘69 (B.A. in Social Science) of Maryland (formerly of Englewood, N.J.), died on July 9, 2021 at age 73. | Obituary

Alice M. Ousterman ‘61 (B.A. in Elementary Education), of Westfield, N.J. (formerly of Cranford, N.J.), died on July 6, 2021 at age 94. | Obituary

Ava Jane Finnerty ‘73 (B.A. in Elementary Education and English) of Bayonne, N.J., died on July 4, 2021 at age 72. | Obituary

Helen M. Dougherty ‘86 (née Haggerty) (B.S.N.) of Wall, N.J., and formerly of Tenafly and Hoboken, died on July 2, 2021 at age 82. | Obituary

Ruby E. Seymour (B.S.N.) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and formerly of Osceola, Indiana, died on July 1, 2021 at age 76. | Obituary

Christine M. Yanuzzi (née Koslecki) ‘77 of North Arlington, N.J. and formerly Kearny, N.J., died June 28, 2021 at age 65. | Obituary

Lillian Delaney (née Rybnicky) ‘59 (B.A. in Education) of Monroe Township, N.J. and formerly of Metuchen, died on June 26, 2021 at age 84. | Obituary

Herbert (Bert) Sweeney Jr. ‘71 (B.A. in History) of Virginia Beach, Va., died on June 13, 2021, one day prior to his 73rd birthday. | Obituary

Lenore Marie Huff (née Guertin) ‘80 (B.S.N.) Green Brook, N.J., died on June 6, 2021 at age 81. | Obituary

Christine Houlihan-Ramos ‘00 (M.A. in Special Education) of Westfield, N.J., died on May 28, 2021 at age 53. | Obituary

Anthony Correia ‘65 (a.k.a. Tony or Billy) (B.A. in Secondary Education – Science) died on May 26, 2021 at age 81. | Obituary

Shirley A. Kietrys ‘80 (B.A.) of Christiansburg, Va. and formerly of Hackettstown, N.J., died on May 25, 2021 at age 83. | Obituary

Barbara Watkoskey ‘80 (B.A. in Physical Education) of North Brunswick, N.J. (formerly of Bayonne, N.J.), died on May 22, 2021 at age 86. | Obituary

Anita S. Meltzer ‘65, (B.A. in Elementary Education), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (formerly of Telford, Pa.), died on May 14, 2021 at age 77. | Obituary

Paul J. Calocino ‘66 (B.A. in Special Education), ‘68 (M.A. in Special Education), of Wood-Ridge, N.J., died on May 12, 2021 at age 77. He was a member of the NJCU Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the 1964 Men's Basketball Team. | Obituary | NJCU Hall of Fame news

John J. Cannon ‘71 (B.A.) of West Hurley, N.Y. (formerly of Fairview, N.J.), died on May 11, 2021 at age 85. | Obituary

Albert (Al) Joseph Schick, ‘87 (B.S. in Criminal Justice) recently of Park Ridge, IL (formerly of Kearny and Tinton Falls, N.J.), died on May 8, 2021 at age 81. | Obituary

Terrence J. Seymour, ‘72 (M.A.) died May 2, 2021, in Ocean Pines, Md at age 76. | Obituary | News

Frank M. Kimmish ‘81 (M.A.) died on April 30, 2021, in Jersey City at age 63. | Obituary

Irving Ziegler ‘56, the President of the Class of 1956, died on April 21, 2021, at age 92. He was married for 63 years to Edith Rosenholtz Ziegler ‘58.

Vida Mylson (B.S. in Accounting) of Upper Saddle River, N.J., died on April 3, 2021 at age 72. | Obituary

Edward W. Reuter (M.A.) of Maplewood, N.J. died on March 29 2021, at age 79. | Obituary