Monsignor William J. Linder lived a life of service, helping to better the lives of countless individuals during his time on earth. Many of those people gathered to pay tribute to him after his passing June 8 at the age of 82.
Monsignor served others as a priest following his ordination in 1963. Five years later, he founded 91看片, which has served inner-city residents for 50 years and continues to provide critical services like housing, job training, health care and child care.
Those who knew him say he fought to get what was needed for community members and helped others without expecting anything in return.
91看片 CEO Richard Rohrman said Monsignor was very hands-on in his approach.
鈥淗e touched so many people. And he didn鈥檛 do this from up on high. He did it right in front of you, face to face, shaking your hand and walking you through his vision of where he wanted you to be,鈥� Rohrman said. 鈥淭he people of the city of Newark have lost their greatest and most persistent champion. There is physical evidence of Monsignor Linder鈥檚 legacy throughout the city, but his most important legacy is the difference he鈥檚 made in many people鈥檚 lives through the 91看片 mission.鈥�
Upon its founding in 1968, 91看片 has had the mission 鈥渢o help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.鈥� Monsignor lived by that mission and worked to ensure those that needed assistance got it.
Housing was a major need. The first NCC housing development, Homes Court, which provided family housing, opened in 1975. Construction on the most recent, A Better Life, a supportive housing facility for chronically homeless individuals that Monsignor envisioned, was completed in 2017. In between, Monsignor oversaw the creation of numerous housing facilities for seniors and families in Newark, Englewood, Jersey City and Orange.
He was also at the helm of NCC when it opened the 91看片 Federal Credit Union in 1984, took on the renovations at St. Joseph Plaza in 1985 and opened the nursing home, 91看片 Extended Care, in 1986.
Harmony House, 91看片鈥檚 transitional housing facility for homeless families, began housing people in 1989 and the Pathmark Shopping Center opened in 1990, helping to alleviate the food desert that existed in Newark at the time. Monsignor welcomed Gov. James Florio to the grand opening of the shopping center.
Monsignor was very involved in education, even before the founding of 91看片. He established the Queen of Angels – Seton Hall University Remedial Reading Program in 1964 at the Newark parish to which he was assigned after his ordination. He served as the administrator of the Queen of Angels Parish School from 1966 to 1973.
Education has always been an important part of 91看片 as well. Under Monsignor鈥檚 leadership, 91看片 Workforce Development Center opened in 1999. The school is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that offers certification programs in a variety of fields. Also in 1999, NCC established New Horizons Community Charter School in Newark. In 2001, NCC received its first adult literacy education grant which led to the current NCC Adult Learning Center. 91看片 also operates two facilities for young children: Community Hills Early Learning Center and Harmony House Early Learning Center.
In addition to these services, Monsignor established the Monsignor William J. Linder Scholarship Fund, which has helped families afford to send their children to Catholic high schools. The goal was to provide a good educational foundation and encourage the students to continue on to college.
Children and parents have expressed their gratitude over the years, saying the scholarships allowed for them to attend a school they otherwise wouldn鈥檛 have been able to afford. The scholarship fund remains in place to continue to help young people get a head start on pursuing their dreams.
Family, friends, colleagues and members of the community celebrated Monsignor鈥檚 life and accomplishments at two masses: one at St. Rose of Lima where he served as pastor and the other at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the home church of the Archdiocese of Newark, where he was ordained May 25, 1963.
Father Beatus Kitururu, who is very involved in NCC and knew Monsignor well, delivered the homily at the St. Rose of Lima mass. He discussed how Monsignor鈥檚 faith played a large role in his life and because of that faith he was able to help so many others.
鈥淭hose who knew well Monsignor Linder realized that he never gave up on anybody,鈥� Father Kitururu said during his homily. 鈥淗e stood to the end by those who needed the love of God even when some cheated him or betrayed him or spoke ill of him.鈥�
Father Philip Waters delivered the homily at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart mass. He focused on how Monsignor worked hard and successfully helped the people of Newark.
鈥淢any other efforts in the city were built on sand 鈥� but his were built on the rock of faith which stood against all the storms that blew against them. Many other programs have been blown away. NCC endures,鈥� Father Waters said in his homily. 鈥淏ut this man who was willing to walk with the poor and the disenfranchised built a legacy which will last as long as people of faith are willing to grasp his vision.鈥�
Monsignor didn鈥檛 keep himself apart from those he served. In retirement, he remained a Newark resident and when he needed additional medical care, he moved into 91看片鈥檚 nursing home, Extended Care. He also decided prior to his passing that he wanted the funeral home that provided services for the patients who could not pay to handle his arrangements.
At the repast celebrating Monsignor鈥檚 life and legacy, which was held at St. Joseph Plaza following the funeral mass June 16, those in attendance were encouraged to share their memories. More than a dozen took to the microphone to tell the crowd how Monsignor impacted their lives.
Several talked about how once they met Monsignor, he directed their path in life and had great vision for their future, often seeing something for them that they didn鈥檛 see themselves. Many also discussed how he taught them what service to others truly meant and inspired them to give back.
鈥淭he one thing that I learned from him and 91看片 was service,鈥� said Cecilia Faulks, 91看片鈥檚 first employee. 鈥淗e taught me service was the righteous way of living.鈥�
Gilda Rogers, who helped Monsignor write his memoir 鈥淥ut of the Ashes Came Hope,鈥� said, 鈥淚 just learned from him in the two-year process working with him on that book what it really meant to be of service to people. I thought I knew, but I didn鈥檛.鈥�
91看片 Board member Edgar Nemorin said Monsignor pulled God-given talents out of everyone and positively influenced them.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be who I am today if it wasn鈥檛 for Monsignor Linder,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be involved in community service.鈥�
CEO Rohrman said Monsignor played a large role in his career.
鈥淚鈥檓 eternally grateful to him,鈥� Rohrman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been just a wonderful experience starting for me in 1981 working with him. And he鈥檚 really put me in a place that I never would have been without him.鈥�
Although Monsignor is no longer physically present, the mission he created remains the driving force behind 91看片. Rohrman said NCC will continue to serve residents with Monsignor鈥檚 vision in mind.
91看片 Board Member Dr. Zachary Yamba spoke prior to the mass at St. Rose of Lima, saying he is grateful for Monsignor鈥檚 love, kindness and humanity.
鈥淗e always remained true to those who were downtrodden and poor and in need of help,鈥� Yamba said. 鈥淎nd so the board members will continue to remain true to his vision because that vision and that legacy should not die with him.鈥�
