David M. Hart

FUNERAL HOME

Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home

582 Springfield Ave.

Westfield, New Jersey

David Hart Obituary

Name: Visitation for David M. Hart
Start: 2016-01-22T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2016-01-23T01:00:00.000Z
Location: Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home

David M. Hart

AGE: 89 • Mountainside

David M. Hart, 89, of Mountainside, NJ passed away on Monday, January 18, 2016, after a two year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Visitation will be held at Higgins and Bonner Funeral Home 582 Springfield Avenue, Westfield, NJ on Friday, January 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. Mass will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 300 Central Avenue Mountainside, NJ, followed by interment at Fairview Cemetery 110 E. Broad St. Westfield, NJ.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dr. Marilyn McGuire Hart, his son, Dr. D. Michael Hart and his wife Eileen of Westfield, NJ; his daughter Ellen Richardson and her husband A. Brad Richardson of Dover, Delaware; and by his second daughter Alison Brafman, and her husband Ari, of Westfield, NJ. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren: Kerry and Brian Hart; David and Daniel Richardson; and Joshua, Harry and Mollie Brafman. David is also survived by two great- grandchildren, Marilyn and Alden Richardson. David was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and raised in Springfield, NJ. He earned a B.A. in Science Education at Montclair University in 1950 and a Masters in Administration and Supervision at Montclair in 1957. A scholarship in his name has been established for a graduating senior at Westfield Senior High School, for one who has demonstrated an extraordinary interest in natural or environmental sciences. He joined the army in 1945 and served with the 15th Infantry regiment in the Philippines, receiving the Asiatic Pacific World War II ribbon and an Honorable Discharge. David was an active member of the Mountainside Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was honored to be the Grand Marshall of the 2014 Memorial Day Parade. In his professional career, David started as a Science Teacher in Roselle Park, NJ for 2 years, followed by teaching Natural Science to 7th graders Westfield, NJ for12 years. He served as principal of Deerfield School, Mountainside, Charles H. Brewer Middle School, in Clark, NJ, and the Charles H. Kumpf Middle School in Clark, for an additional total of 25 years. Community involvement included 6 years as a Councilman on the Mountainside Borough Council, service for 6 years on the Union County Regional High School Board of Education, service on the Board of Directors of the Children's Specialized Hospital, membership for many years in the Lions Club, including being President in 1986-87, membership in the VFW-Post 10136, a member of the Mountainside Music Association, David was a Scoutmaster and Leader in Boy Scout Troop 76 for 4 years during which time they graduated 6 Eagle Scouts; he was a Little League Coach for 2 years, which included winning the pennant, and the Jonathan Dayton Choral Parents Society. David loved Fishing, and was on the New Jersey State Council for Central Jersey Trout Unlimited, and served on the Board of Directors for The Warren County Rod and Gun Club. In his retirement, David was an avid fisherman, and fished frequently with his son, Michael, and other family members. David has photos of almost every child and grandchild holding a fish. Marilyn and David loved to travel and sometimes combined fishing with their trips. They traveled all over Europe, went to China, and the Caribbean. David included fishing in his trips to Alaska 5 times, New Zealand, Belize, and all over the United States and Canada.

David Hart was a pillar of the community, had high moral values, was active in his church, was a wonderful father and family man, and a man of great accomplishments. He brought out the best in everyone around him, and was beloved by all. He will be sorely missed. In lieu of flowers, contributions in David's name may be sent to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave., 7th flr New York City, NY 10001.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Home News Tribune on Jan. 20, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for David Hart

4 Entries

Waldo H. Carkhuff

December 30, 2016

Way back when, I was directed to the "Brewer School" to do what was then called "practice teaching." My selection was not really such. Rather, I was given this task as a reward for a run in with an administrator at Kean University, Mr. Volpe. My assigned teacher (Bill Norris), was a model of what one should be in leading students. Call mine at Brewer an awesome experience. On the last day or so, David "laid out the consequences" of my Kean run in. Let's call it my "pay back." The "deal was done" he said. I was to receive the LOWEST GRADE POSSIBLY GIVEN to a student teacher. David called me into his office and "man-to-man" he told me what was about to transpire. He told me that I did work hard, likely earned a far better grade and that he thought real hard about "what to do." He told me that both he and my cooperating teacher would have been inclined to give me a much better grade, but in retrospect...would I have learned to keep my mouth shut...errr, be more discrete in publicly addressing Mr. Volpe? He told me that if he was "my dad" that the lesson learned would be far more valuable in the long run. Yet, he said, "I could list him as a reference of explanation to a potential employer." So, of over a hundred student teachers, 90 A's and a few B+'s, I GOT A "C." An 8 credit one at that. But the experience watching someone "teach 'em well" (Bill Norris) and scold-to-caringly mold me, David M. Hart, were certainly life changing for me. I never said thank you to either of these men... though I did commend Bill Norris for his modeling what every teacher should be. Anyway, thank you David M. Hart. You did me well. w

Walter Boright

January 24, 2016

When a 22 year old teacher-to-be I met David M. Hart, principal of the Charles Brewer School. He was an outstanding educator who encouraged and supported his students and his teachers to do the right thing. He was focused on what worked best in education as he wanted staff and students alike to succeed. He created his "second family" at the school. He spoke often of the achievements of his wife and children - my how he beamed about those milestones, never bragging, but with pride. And they accomplished much. He was a very proud husband and father. I knew of Dave's accomplishments as a member of the Mountainside borough council, member of the Regional HS Board of Education, as a fisherman-outdoorsman, and member of the local music association. He was totally committed to each. Never did he undertake something without the intent of being successful in making things better for others. And he succeeded. Words are never adequate to assuage the pain of those who have lost a loved one. But may Marilyn, Michael, Ellen, and Alison take some solace in knowing that husband and father, David, made a real positive difference in the lives of a great many people. I know he did for me and for that I always will be grateful.

My wife Pamela, and I, extend to you our heartfelt sympathy.

Walter and Pamela Boright

January 22, 2016

Dear Mike and Eileen,
The thoughts and prayers of all your friends are with you in your loss.
Richard Ray

January 21, 2016

Great teacher with a very warm kind spirit. Thinking of you all. Debbie Keller Borchert

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