Lakewood, NJ
Obituaries
Shock, Sadness Spread After Point Pleasant HS Grad Maggie Gilbert Dies In Labor, 31 Shock, Sadness Spread After Point Pleasant HS Grad Maggie Gilbert Dies In Labor, 31
Shock, Sadness Spread After Point Pleasant HS Grad Maggie Gilbert Dies In Labor, 31 Point Pleasant High School graduate Maggie Gilbert died on Feb. 13, of complications following of an emergency C-section with her firstborn son. She was 31 years old. More than $28,000 had been raised on a GoFundMe as of Wednesday for her newborn boy Aiden Patrick, and husband, Ryan Gilbert. The Gilberts were just starting their lives together: Married in April 2017, the couple bought a home in Bridgewater to raise their family. "It is unimaginable that the best and worst days of my brother's life occurred just days apart, but we are all truly blown away by the incredible strength he has…

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by Jon Craig
Elizabeth, NJ
Obituaries
Elizabeth Native Philip Deckert Dies, 34 Elizabeth Native Philip Deckert Dies, 34
Elizabeth Native Philip Deckert Dies, 34 Elizabeth native Philip Deckert died Jan. 10, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was 34 years old. Philip was a graduate of Kean University (Class of 2010) with a degree in criminal justice. He moved to Florida in 2014, and worked as a valet for the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, his obituary says. He enjoyed both playing and watching basketball, along with other sports, and played for the St. Hedwig Hawks in 1994-95 -- when they won the Elizabeth City Championship. Philip is survived by his mother, Mary Ann Socha Deckert; father, Henry Deckert; sister, Veronica A. Deckert; along with friends, collea…

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by Cecilia Levine
Elizabeth, NJ
News
Wine Dating Back To 1700s Found In Union Wine Dating Back To 1700s Found In Union
Wine Dating Back To 1700s Found In Union Bottles of centuries-old wine were recently found at a Colonial-era home in Union that also houses the Liberty Hall Museum, museum officials said. The home -- built in 1772 by the state’s first governor, William Livingston -- is affiliated with Kean University. During a recent renovation, 25 bottles of Madeira wine dating from 1796 were discovered in the wine cellar. Also found were dozens of demijohns -- a type of large, bulbous container -- dating from the 1820s. It is considered one of the largest collections of 18th-century Madeira wine in the United States, the museum said. The discov…

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by Paul Milo
Elizabeth, NJ
Neighbors
ER Nurse From Union County Needs Help In Cancer Fight ER Nurse From Union County Needs Help In Cancer Fight
ER Nurse From Union County Needs Help In Cancer Fight As an emergency room nurse for the last 13 years, Jennifer Noone has helped countless people in medical distress. Now, she finds herself in need of help. Noone, a Clark resident who attended Roselle Catholic High School and Kean University, was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in February. A rare form of cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma affects only about 1 in 100,000 Americans. The experienced nurse contracted a sinus infection in January and knew something was wrong when it wasn’t clearing up. A visit to the doctor confirmed that she was very sick and had to begin an aggressive co…

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by Paul Milo
Elizabeth, NJ
Schools
Actor Jeff Daniels Will Be Featured Speaker At Kean Commencement Actor Jeff Daniels Will Be Featured Speaker At Kean Commencement
Actor Jeff Daniels Will Be Featured Speaker At Kean Commencement Two prominent entertainers will give the key speeches at Kean University's undergraduate and graduate school commencements later this month.  Actor and musician Jeff Daniels will speak during the undergraduate commencement ceremony, which will be held May 23 at the Prudential Center in Newark. About 2,800 students will be awarded their diplomas.  Daniels, winner of three Tony Awards and an Emmy, is currently starring in To Kill A Mockingbird on Broadway. He has also starred in films including Terms of Endearment, Dumb and Dumber and Good Night and Good Luck, as well as HBO's "The …

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by Paul Milo
Ridgewood, NJ
Obituaries
Justin Cigolini Of Ridgewood Dies, 31 Justin Cigolini Of Ridgewood Dies, 31
Justin Cigolini Of Ridgewood Dies, 31 Justin Joseph Cigolini of Ridgewood died suddenly on April 16. He was 31 years old. Justin was a 2006 graduate of Ridgewood high School. He went on to attend Kean University and St. Peter's college, and was a member of Carpenters Union Local 255, his obituary says.  He was predeceased by his father, Walter Cigolini. Justin is survived by his mother, Lucille Cigolini (nee Caterella); brother Paul Cigolini and his fiancé Kaitlyn; and sister Christina Cigolini. Visitation is Tuesday, April 23 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Feeney Funeral Home on Franklin Avenue. Donations in Justin's memory c…

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by Cecilia Levine
Fort Lee, NJ
Police & Fire
HERO: Courageous Port Authority PD Recruit Who Returned To Training With Cancer Laid To Rest HERO: Courageous Port Authority PD Recruit Who Returned To Training With Cancer Laid To Rest
Hero: Courageous Port Authority PD Recruit Who Returned To Training With Cancer Laid To Rest Port Authority police turned out in force Wednesday, joined by other members of the law enforcement community, to lay to rest a courageous PAPD recruit who valiantly returned to training while fighting cancer -- only to have it take his life. Michael Joseph Kelly, 31, was originally a member of the 115th Port Authority Police Academy Recruit Training Class in 2017 but had to withdraw after having emergency colon surgery, colleagues said. He nonetheless “displayed incredible courage, strength and determination battling his illness and returned as a member of the 117th Recruit Training Class”…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Mahwah-Ramsey, NJ
Sports
'Illegal' Don Bosco Football Scrimmage Prompts NJSIAA Investigation 'Illegal' Don Bosco Football Scrimmage Prompts NJSIAA Investigation
'Illegal' Don Bosco Football Scrimmage Prompts Njsiaa Investigation Talks of an illegal summer football competition between Don Bosco Prep and St. John Vianney has prompted an investigation by the NJSIAA, NJ.com reports. Interscholastic activity, which the organization prohibits during summer months, was captured on video between the school's "legal" teams at Kean University, the article says citing NJSIAA Executive Director Larry White. John Vianney Head Coach Jim Martucci denied the allegations of a scrimmage to NJ.com. He said the teams playing together at the university was simply because they were the only two schools to take advantage of a s…

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by Cecilia Levine
Pascack Valley, NJ
Police & Fire
Meet The New-Look River Vale Police Department Meet The New-Look River Vale Police Department
Meet The New-Look River Vale Police Department RIVER VALE, N.J. – The new-look River Vale Police Department has six new officers hired over the past three months and six recently-promoted supervisors. “In order to continue the department's tremendous success, we must prepare for the future,” Mayor Glen Jasionowski said. “By hiring the best available police officers and promoting our most talented leaders, we have paved the way for a successful future.” The moves come on the heels of several recent and upcoming retirements of long-time department members. “This is a very exciting time for us,” Police Chief William Giordano said. “W…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Pascack Valley, NJ
Police & Fire
Fit Cops: Custodian To Corrections, Emerson Officer Lands On His Feet Fit Cops: Custodian To Corrections, Emerson Officer Lands On His Feet
Fit Cops: Custodian To Corrections, Emerson Officer Lands On His Feet EMERSON, N.J. -- Tyler Monroy of Emerson was 22 years old with a bright future ahead of him in 2014. At the time, that wasn't how it felt. His days were dark and dragging. He was balancing a trio of dead-end jobs and spent his days cleaning high school bathrooms, busing food and working security at a mall. Monroy's only glimmer of hope was the possibility that one day, he'd hear back from the New Jersey Corrections Department on his application. Going to the gym and listening to motivational speeches he found online were Monroy's lifelines at the time. But now that he's landed on his fee…

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by Cecilia Levine
Cliffside Park-Edgewater, NJ
Neighbors
U.S. Architect Organization's Resident Of The Year Hails From Edgewater U.S. Architect Organization's Resident Of The Year Hails From Edgewater
U.S. Architect Organization's Resident Of The Year Hails From Edgewater EDGEWATER, N.J. -- Adjunct professor at Kean University’s Michael Graves College Richard Bettini was named the 2017 American Institute of Architects (AIA) New Jersey Resident of the Year, in recognition of his efforts in the field of architecture.  AIA is a professional organization that helps architects serve the public’s needs and builds awareness of the role of architects in American society. “I’ve spent most of my career in the academic area – secondary education and university level teaching – helping students pursue careers as architects,” said Bettini. “I am grateful that this award…

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by Cecilia Levine