Obituary of H. Joseph North

Joseph and Marian North Loved Bloomfield H. Joseph North, 83, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at Care One in Livingston, NJ and Marian Reister North, 71, joined her beloved husband in heaven when she passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at the Arbor Glen Center in Cedar Grove, NJ. Joseph was born in Orange, NJ to Herman and Alla North and grew up in Bloomfield where his father owned a pharmacy on Broad Street. He graduated from Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies and earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. North proudly served in the United States Army from 1954-1956. Following his service, Mr. North worked as an Essex County Probation Officer and In 1958 began an illustrious career with Bloomfield Township, serving as the Town Clerk and Director of Planning and Development. In 1967 he became the Township Administrator incorporating the role of Director of Administration, Budget, Purchasing and Personnel. He held this position until his retirement in 1986. Over the years, Mr. North was a member and held offices in many professional and civic organizations, including, the Past President of the Municipal Management Association, International City Management Association and American Society for Public Administration. He was on the Advisory Board for the Master in Public Administration Program at Kean College, served as an instructor in Public Administration at FDU, was a municipal representative to the Essex County Solid Waste Advisory Council, and was president of the Bloomfield Fifth Quarter Club. Mr. North was also a Founder of the Boys Club of Bloomfield and Bloomfield Tennis Players Federation, as well as a member of the Sierra Club and the Union County Hiking Club. Joseph was also the honored recipient of the Cross and Crescent of the Honor Society of Seton Hall University (1954), the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Bloomfield Jaycees (1965), the Outstanding Civic Leader of America (1967) and the Administrator of the Year from Montclair State College (1977). Marian, Mr. North's beloved wife of 44 years, was born in New York City to William and Helen Reister. After graduating from college she worked as a teacher for several years and retired early to enjoy caring for their home in the Brookdale Section of Bloomfield and aging relatives. Perhaps most importantly to spend more time with her beloved husband and their loving dogs. Marian enjoyed gardening, crafting, cooking and making jewelry and throughout her life enjoyed athletic competition, especially tennis and bowling. She participated in many local teams and thoroughly enjoyed the friendships she made in those arenas. Together Joseph and Marian enjoyed a wonderful life full of travel, community involvement and fellowship with family and friends. They are sorely missed by their neighbors, community and close friends, including the Roger and Dolores Jones Family of West Caldwell, NJ. Please remember them with a smile and some laughter or perhaps with a good meal and the company of those you love. Services for both were private in care of the Codey & Jones Funeral Home of Caldwell, NJ. To extend a condolence or share a memory, please visit www.codeyjonesfh.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joe's memory to St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 60 Byrd Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ 07003. Donations in Marian's memory to the Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, would also be deeply appreciated.