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Philanthropy

Obituaries
Bernie Marcus, Billionaire Co-Founder Of The Home Depot From NJ, Dead At 95 Bernie Marcus, Billionaire Co-Founder Of The Home Depot From NJ, Dead At 95
Bernie Marcus, Billionaire Co-Founder Of The Home Depot From NJ, Dead At 95 Bernie Marcus, who helped found The Home Depot and grew up in Newark, died on Monday, Nov. 4 at the age of 95, the hardware chain announced. Born to Russian Jewish immigrants, Marcus dreamed of being a doctor while growing up in Newark, according to an obituary posted by The Home Depot. His family couldn't afford medical school, so he attended Rutgers University and received a degree in pharmacy, his obituary reads. Marcus worked for several companies before he became chairman of the board and president of Handy Dan Improvement Centers, according to his obituary. After getting fired from Ha…

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by Sam Barron
Obituaries
Montclair-Based Realtor Killed In South Jersey Crash Montclair-Based Realtor Killed In South Jersey Crash
Montclair-Based Realtor Killed In South Jersey Crash A prominent New Jersey realtor was killed in a crash Thursday, Sept. 5, authorities said. Michael Kravchak, 47, of Egg Harbor City, died in the wreck on Thursday, Sept. 5, the Mansfield Township Police Department said in a news release. Officers responded to the crash on Route 206 North near the intersection with Route 68 at around 11:03 a.m. Investigators said Kravchak's vehicle hit a traffic light pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Joseph Kravchak (@notyouraveragerealtorexp) …

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
Anti-Gay Candidate Whose Brother Was Fired From NJ Job For Supporting Her Loses Big Anti-Gay Candidate Whose Brother Was Fired From NJ Job For Supporting Her Loses Big
Anti-Gay Candidate Whose Brother Was Fired From NJ Job For Supporting Her Loses Big It has not been a good week for the Gomez family. Valentina Gomez, who had been running in the Republican primary for Missouri Secretary of State, finished in sixth place on Tuesday, Aug. 6, receiving just 7.4% of  the vote, after a campaign filled with anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.  Her brother, Jonathan Gomez-Noriega was fired from his job as an aide to Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop after donating $1,250 to Valentina's campaign. He apparently shared a recording of his phone call with the mayor with his sister, who promptly posted it on social media. Gomez-Noriega also resigned fr…

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by Sam Barron
Lifestyle
Jeff Bezos' Ex-Wife Divorcing Suburban Philadelphia High School Chem Teacher Husband Jeff Bezos' Ex-Wife Divorcing Suburban Philadelphia High School Chem Teacher Husband
Jeff Bezos' Ex-Wife Divorcing Suburban Philadelphia High School Chem Teacher Husband Jeff Bezos' ex-wife MacKenzie Scott has apparently filed for divorce from her second husband Dan Jewett, who taught chemistry in suburban Philadelphia, after less than two years of marriage. Scott, 52, filed a petition for divorce Monday, Sept. 26 in the King County Superior Court in Washington State, the New York Times reports. Jewett reportedly did not contest the divorce. Jewett and Scott confirmed their marriage in a statement released March 6 on the Giving Pledge website, a campaign that encourages wealthy people to donate a majority of their wealth to charity. And they did j…

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by Nicole Acosta & Cecilia Levine
News
Former Bergen Pilates Entrepreneur, Hospital Philanthropist Dies In Florida Former Bergen Pilates Entrepreneur, Hospital Philanthropist Dies In Florida
Former Bergen Pilates Entrepreneur, Hospital Philanthropist Dies In Florida A funeral service is scheduled this weekend for a former Bergen County fitness entrepreneur and hospital philanthropist who died suddenly at her Florida home. The circumstances surrounding the death of Nanci Perle Kushner on Monday, March 21, haven’t been made public. Previously from Cresskill, the 56-year-old New York native had been living in Boca Raton, FL, records show. Kusher received a bachelor’s degree in retail and marketing from Syracuse University and a master's in education from Fordham Graduate School before cultivating a love of exercise into the founding of NPK Pilates in Cr…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Legacy Of NJ Woman Lives On Through Memorial Foundation Legacy Of NJ Woman Lives On Through Memorial Foundation
Legacy Of NJ Woman Lives On Through Memorial Foundation Megan Schulman had a promising future ahead of her. The 23-year-old New Jersey native had recently graduated from Washington University and begun her career at Cigna, in the company's competitive Actuarial Executive Development Program. A bright light with a contagious smile, Schulman pursued every opportunity with fierce determination, and lived every day to the fullest. On March 27, 2021, Schulman died at Lenox Hill Hospital, leaving a promising and full life behind. Those who knew and loved Megan have ensured her legacy will live on, though, through a foundation started in her nam…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Suburban Philly High School Chem Teacher Quietly Marries Jeff Bezos' Billionaire Ex Suburban Philly High School Chem Teacher Quietly Marries Jeff Bezos' Billionaire Ex
Suburban Philly High School Chem Teacher Quietly Marries Jeff Bezos' Billionaire Ex A former chemistry teacher at a Montgomery County  high school quietly tied the knot with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezo's ex-wife last weekend. Dan Jewett and Mackenzie Scott confirmed their marriage in a statement released March 6 on the Giving Pledge website, a campaign that encourages wealthy people to donate a majority of their wealth to charity. Scott -- a philanthropist, author and Princeton University graduate -- has a net worth of $53.9 billion, according to Forbes. She divorced Bezos in 2019 after 25 years of marriage. Jewett taught chemistry at Harriton High School in …

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by Nicole Acosta
News
NJ Couple Cover Cost Of Flying In 7,400 N-95 Respirators From CA To Teterboro NJ Couple Cover Cost Of Flying In 7,400 N-95 Respirators From CA To Teterboro
NJ Couple Cover Cost Of Flying In 7,400 N-95 Respirators From CA To Teterboro A shipment of 7,400 N-95 respirator masks arrived at Teterboro Airport early Tuesday to be distributed to area hospitals to help deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Making it possible were a Los Angeles-based company that makes vapes and vape products and a New Jersey couple who’ve become titans of the investment advisory industry. CEO Daniel Shapiro of Inhale Health was aboard the NetsJets Challenger 350 that brought the masks from Van Nuys, CA. Picking up the transportation tab for the business jet were prominent benefactors Ric and Jean Edelman. Crew members with Signature Flight Supp…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Lifestyle
Oprah Donates $500K To Newark High School Oprah Donates $500K To Newark High School
Oprah Donates $500K To Newark High School Oprah Winfrey surprised students at West Side HIgh School during a visit Friday night, when she pledged a half-million dollars to fund a signature initiative started by the school's principal.  CBS 2 News reports that Winfrey was inspired to make the donation after she read about Principal Akbar Cook's "Lights On" initiative,  under which the school remains open Friday nights to give students an alternative to the streets.  Winfrey's donation will fund the program through the summer.  Cook gained national notoriety after he installed laundry rooms at the schoo…

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by Paul Milo
Business
Shop At These Garden State Plaza Stores To Aid Paramus Crash Victims Shop At These Garden State Plaza Stores To Aid Paramus Crash Victims
Shop At These Garden State Plaza Stores To Aid Paramus Crash Victims Several retailers and restaurants at the Westfield Garden State Plaza will be donating 10 percent of registered sales or making a monetary donation on Wednesday, June 20 to the Paramus Children's Health Foundation to benefit Paramus East Brook Middle School families. One student and one teacher from the school were killed last month during a field trip when the school bus they were on crashed, injuring 43 others with several in critical condition. The following stores will be participating in the fundraiser: Bags Plus Bar Louie (20% of sales) California Pizza Kitchen BOSS Longchamp Marc C…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Ellen DeGeneres Surprises Ridgefield Teacher, Colleague On TV Ellen DeGeneres Surprises Ridgefield Teacher, Colleague On TV
Ellen DeGeneres Surprises Ridgefield Teacher, Colleague On TV A teacher from Ridgefield and her colleague got the surprise of a lifetime from Ellen DeGeneres on national television. Maria Morgana (technology teacher) and Susan Saab (Title 1 teacher) of the McKinley School in North Bergen were sitting in the talk show host's audience when the screen flashed to their school back in New Jersey. Standing there waving were all of their students and an Ellen DeGeneres Show staff member, who surprised them with a check from Walmart worth $50,000. Morgana said she was going to be more than a teacher for her students when in the first month, one child came to…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Just Married! Bergen-Passaic Couple Met In Grad School Just Married! Bergen-Passaic Couple Met In Grad School
Just Married! Bergen-Passaic Couple Met In Grad School Sara Marie Brandsema and John David Handal were married March 2 at St. Aedan’s Church on the campus of St. Peter’s University in Jersey City.  Brandsema is from River Edge and Handal is from Totowa. The pair met at Rutgers University in Newark in 2011, from where Brandesma received a master’s degree in global affairs and the groom received a master’s degree and a doctorate degree in global affairs. The bride is 31 and works as a philanthropy and partnerships officer at the International Rescue Committee in New York City, generating resources to benefit refugees and displaced populations. S…

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by Cecilia Levine