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Margaret Judith Doran – Judy to all who knew her – passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 12, in Livingston. Judy was born on September 12, 1943 to the late William and Mabel (Sullivan) Doran.

Stephen Messarosh, 91, of Livingston, passed away on Saturday, February 24, with his family by his side. Born on October 22, 1932, in Throop, Pennsylvania, Stephen led a life filled with passion, purpose, and service. A proud veteran, Stephen served his country honorably in the Navy during the Korean War, stationed aboard the USS Midway.

While the West Essex Tribune’s regular readership will not notice any changes to this week’s issue (other than a larger page count), some are picking up our paper for the first time. This week’s edition is what we in the Trib office call a “TMC,” which stands for Total Market Coverage. It is the first of four newspapers this year that we will send to every residence in Livingston, whether or not you subscribe. So for those who are new, allow us to tell you why this paper is worth reading as you wait for your coffee to finish brewing.

As the newest staff member at the West Essex Tribune, I’ve spent my first month learning as much as I could about Livingston, its history, and what makes this township special. Among the interesting tidbits I learned, I was shocked to discover that many celebrities were born and raised within Livingston’s borders. Sure, there are some A-listers everyone has heard of like Chelsea Handler, Jason Alexander, and Wendy Williams, but there are many more.

I have always enjoyed board games, but rarely do I have the opportunity to play them. Growing up, my parents weren’t big fans, and I could only rely on my brother and neighbors to play on a rainy day. I had to wait until college to find a group of friends who really enjoyed a good game of “Catan.” Now, my wife humors me on occasion, but playing a game is never her first, second, or third choice of activity when the kids finally fall asleep. And we rarely have the free time to host a game night. But now, at long last, I have two budding board game partners.

Open for 69 years, the Heavenly Finds Thrift Shop moved in December of 2023. It is now located in the rectory (the house) on the St. Peter’s Church property, 94 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, next to the Ritz Diner.

Livingston’s Sia Malhotra recently spearheaded the project of creating a children’s lending library in Terminal A of Newark International Airport. The library officially opened last month.

Norman W. Spindel, 76, died on Sunday, February 25.

Antoinette D’Archi (née Luciano), 87, of Livingston died on Tuesday, February 13.

Leo G. Donohue, age 73, of Livingston died on February 8. Bom in Paterson and raised in Hawthorne, he had resided in Livingston since 1978.

Helen Friedman passed away at home on February 12 at the age of 97. She was the daughter of Golda and Joseph Rosenkrantz and spent most of her life in the Bronx in New York until moving to Livingston, New Jersey about 27 years ago.

Carol Bloomgarden Schectman, age 98, ofAventura, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, February 14, at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital. Carol was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 5, 1926 to David and Lillian (Florman) Lane.