William J. Meisner

Dr. William J. Meisner, Ed.D., aged 83 passed away peacefully on February 7, 2022. Born on July 10, 1938, he is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Barbara H. Meisner, his sons Philip and Jeffrey Meisner, their respective spouses Gerardo and Erika, and his grandchildren Violet and Bennett Meisner. He also leaves behind his beloved niece, Diane Brunda, and her family along with many other loving relatives and friends as well as his faithful Scottish Terriers, Finley and Brodie. He is predeceased by his father Winant Meisner, mother Doris Van Valkenburgh, brother John B. Meisner, and his nephew John Meisner.
While his family and friends will remember him as a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, godfather, and faithful friend, the world will remember him as an educator, or as he liked to be called, a teacher. His impact on his individual students and the educational system as a whole cannot be overstated.
Although born in Paterson, his education and early life began in Hawthorne, NJ where he graduated from Hawthorne High School, going on to Montclair State Teacher's College (now Montclair State University) to earn his Bachelor's degree. During this time, he served as a Sunday school teacher at St. Clement's, also in Hawthorne. He began teaching at Saddle Brook High School in the early 1960s while pursuing a Master's degree. There he became active in Bergen County politics. He was elected to the Saddle Brook Township Council, ran for mayor, ran for county freeholder, and was appointed to the Bergen County Vocational Technical School Board where he served with distinction as President. But, most importantly, during this time he met his future wife through his Saddle Brook political connections. One of his supporters hastily arranged his escort, of then Barbara Kornacki, to the wedding of their son.
Bill, as his many friends knew him, and Barbara, began their life together in 1975 at their wedding, residing first in Saddle Brook, then returning to Hawthorne where they welcomed their sons, followed by Wayne, Mahwah, and finally Woodcliff Lake.
In the intervening years, Bill went on to earn a second Master's degree and to become a Doctor of Education from Rutgers University. He continued in his long and storied career as a professor of education on a graduate and undergraduate level throughout the State's educational institutions, primarily New Jersey City University (then Jersey City State College). Among the many credits to his professorship, which concentrated in curriculum development and educational administration, he taught and trained over 40% of the active school administrators in the State of New Jersey as well as developed many model curricula, notably the first K-12 AIDS education curriculum for the State.
An educator with a tireless work ethic, Bill never confined himself to the lecture hall. He often traveled as a visiting professor providing specialized training to administrators in geographically underserved areas of the State. He also taught inmates at Rahway State Prison for several semesters, a role for which he was later credited. In addition, he was a longtime member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Assumption College for Sisters in Mendham, where he was honored in 2012.
Despite his workload, he was an ever-present husband, father, and family man. He especially enjoyed the summers spent at his shore homes – first in Mantoloking and then in Barnegat. A music lover, Bill also enjoyed being President of the North Jersey Philharmonic Society and Orchestra for many years as well as co-chairing with his wife the annual Strauss Charity Ball, which was a staple of North Jersey society for many years.
Following his retirement as a full professor, he re-engaged with the Bergen County Vocational Technical School Board, which was then called Bergen County Technical Schools, where he served until the Summer of 2019. Ever passionate about education, he worked with fellow Board members and the county superintendent to advance many measures benefitting not only the gifted and talented, but also the average student. While also in retirement, he served on the Bergen County Attorney Ethics Committee for many years.
A lifelong Democrat and supporter of the party, during the dawn of his political career he was president of the Young Democrats of Bergen County. He and his wife hosted many fundraisers and gatherings for local, county, state, and congressional candidates.
A Son of the American Revolution and scion of an old Paterson family predating the founding of the Republic, Bill always had a mind toward the future of the country. His focus in that respect long ceased to confine itself to politics and instead focused on the education of every child as a means of securing our collective future.
In Bill's company good conversation and laughter could always be found. And while the light at his desk, which burned so brightly for his family, friends, students, and colleagues for so many years has now gone out, his keen wit, his generosity, and his love of learning will always be remembered.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Friday, February 11, 2022 at the Browning-Forshay Funeral Home, 557 Lafayette Ave., Hawthorne. Entombment will follow at Garden of Memories Mausoleum in Washington Township. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday from 4-8pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.