Newton Richards – 91��Ƭ

91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman to Retire May 31

Michelle Lang — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 14:28:36 +0000

Chief Executive Officer Richard Rohrman has announced his retirement from 91��Ƭ at the end of May. He has served as NCC’s CEO since April of 2013.

Rohrman’s history with 91��Ƭ started long before he was appointed as CEO. In the 1980s, he served as the organization’s Assistant Director of Maintenance and Business Development Manager. Since then, he has held the positions of Director of Real Estate Operations and Director of Real Estate Development. During his tenure, he oversaw NCC’s business development, real estate development, operations and economic development. He took over the role of CEO when NCC Founder Monsignor William J. Linder retired from that position.

Rohrman said Monsignor Linder encouraged him to join 91��Ƭ in 1981.

“I had no idea that I was beginning one of the most meaningful and enriching experiences of my life,” Rohrman said. “Having been able to work at the side of an icon like Monsignor Linder was a once in a lifetime honor and opportunity. He opened my eyes to the injustice in the city and the injustice that its people were suffering. As a child of the suburban Catholic school system, it is an understatement to say I was introduced to a different world than the one I grew up in.”

Rohrman embraced NCC’s mission and grew within the organization, eventually taking the reins. As CEO, he has led 91��Ƭ through its 50th anniversary year and helped set the organization on a steady path for the next 50 years. He led the re-syndication of over 1,100 units of NCC housing, which resulted in renovations and the preservation of much-needed affordable housing servicing the most vulnerable population. He also reorganized NCC’s executive team, adding a Chief Operating Officer.

Rohrman has used his expertise to strengthen the operational structure and the financial standing of the organization, positioning NCC to grow. In keeping with the organization’s values, Rohrman oversaw an increased minimum wage for its workforce and initiated a 401(k) benefits program for employees with an employer match.

Rohrman has been at the helm of 91��Ƭ through times of transition, including the passing of the organization’s founder and Board Chairman, Monsignor Linder, in 2018. He has also led 91��Ƭ through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout his tenure, Rohrman said the human element has stood out the most.

“The work has been both rewarding and meaningful to me but the real story is the people. I have been so enriched by the people I have met, gotten to know and been friends with over the years. To learn about so many cultures and backgrounds and having the opportunity to appreciate them has been a life-changer for me,” Rohrman said. “Having worked with and known a seemingly endless array of dedicated people with such different backgrounds has been the real story of my time at NCC. I am proud of my work and also thankful that I have been able to make some difference in the lives of our workforce, clients and residents.”

Being part of 91��Ƭ for so many years, Rohrman got to know the inner workings of the organization, which put him in a position to successfully lead. Members of the Board of Directors are pleased with how Rohrman has positioned 91��Ƭ to move forward.

“His retirement is going to be a real loss to 91��Ƭ because he has served us well,” said Board Chairman Dr. A. Zachary Yamba. “He has a steady hand, he is very approachable and he is very knowledgeable about the organization.”

“He was remarkable in boosting both the stability and the quality of 91��Ƭ’s role as a service provider for the community,” said long-time Board Member Newton Richards. “During the course of his tenure, there was a constant upward trend.”

“Over the years, Rich has worked hard to bring NCC to the level where it is today, including increasing the membership of the NCC Board of Directors,” said NCC Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson. “I would like to take this opportunity to say a job well done and to enjoy your retirement.”

In addition to working closely with members of NCC’s Board of Directors and staff, Rohrman also forged relationships with those working in other organizations, including Victoria Foundation Co-Executive Officer Craig Drinkard. Victoria Foundation has served as a long-time funder of 91��Ƭ and Drinkard has worked there since 2006. Drinkard, who lived in NCC housing when growing up, described Rohrman as humble and willing to ask for help when needed.

“He was always methodical in his thinking around the moves the organization needed to make,” Drinkard said, citing as an example the re-syndication of NCC housing which took many steps and much coordination. “Not only are the residents benefiting from that on a day-to-day basis, but the organization itself is in a better position.”

Rohrman knows that after his retirement, 91��Ƭ will continue to provide quality services that fulfill the organization’s mission to help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.

“NCC is in a strong position to explode into its next 50 years,” Rohrman said. “There will be new buildings and facilities, much greater emphasis on health and its relationship to housing, training for well-paying in-demand jobs, health care, early childhood development and who knows what opportunities will open up. Whatever arises, NCC will be ready.”

While it will be difficult to replace Rohrman, Yamba is optimistic about the future.

“We hope that the person who succeeds him will be able to rise up to the challenge, especially in this period of COVID, economic downturn and all the issues facing the nation and community-based organizations,” Yamba said.

Rorhman plans to enjoy his retirement in a variety of ways.

“Traveling with my wife Joanne, spending time with family in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Colorado; reading; volunteering; hiking; taking some courses in interesting topics; and slowing down a little are all in store for the future,” he said.

The NCC Board of Directors has embarked on a search for the organization’s next CEO. The Board has engaged The Support Center, a nonprofit leadership and consulting organization specializing in executive search and transition management, to help navigate the search and manage the transition. The Support Center has deep roots in Newark and has been an important partner to NCC over the years.

91��Ƭ will release a special edition Clarion in the near future to highlight more of Richard Rohrman’s time with the organization and the perspective of those who have worked with him.

For information about the CEO opportunity, .

Remembering Founding NCC Board Member And Newark’s First Black Mayor Ken Gibson

Michelle Lang — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:35:37 +0000

Ken Gibson was a founding board member for 91��Ƭ, as well as Newark’s first black mayor. Photo courtesy of Tracey Battles.

Ken Gibson is best known for being the first black mayor of Newark, but he was also a founding board member of 91��Ƭ. He passed away March 29 at the age of 86.
“Ken Gibson was a groundbreaker and was associated with 91��Ƭ from its inception. He had a profound influence on the city and will be missed dearly,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman.
91��Ƭ Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba said Gibson was very dedicated to the city of Newark. Yamba said Gibson put a high priority on employment and training and was instrumental in the push to keep Essex County College in Newark when others were trying to move it to the suburbs. Yamba also called him a gentleman mayor.
“His personality was such that he always welcomed you. He didn’t push you off when you went to see him,” Yamba said. “I really admired him for that. I appreciated that relationship and certainly his passing is a great loss for all of us.”
Gibson spent the early part of his life in Alabama. He moved to the Central Ward of Newark with his parents when he was 8 years old. He attended Central High School and Newark College of Engineering (which is now NJIT). He was an engineering aide for the New Jersey State Highway Department, an engineer for the Newark Housing Authority and the treasurer of the United Essex Civic Association.
He first ran for mayor of Newark in 1966. He lost the race, but received a sizable amount of votes, which was encouraging enough for him to run again in 1970, when he won. Gibson served as mayor until 1986. He is the city’s longest-serving mayor.
In between his first two bids for office, the Newark Rebellion took place in the summer of 1967. After that, 91��Ƭ Director of Community Engagement Richard Cammarieri said activists focused on two areas: electing a mayor and city council that reflected the makeup of the city and improving conditions so residents could thrive.
Cammarieri explained that Gibson was involved in both of those initiatives, with politics and as a founding board member for NCC, which was incorporated in 1968.
“In many ways Ken Gibson was at the intersection of these interrelated and complementary impulses: electoral political organizing and neighborhood-based community development,” Cammarieri said.
After Gibson became mayor and was no longer a board member for NCC, he still kept a strong relationship with the organization. Current 91��Ƭ Board Member Newton Richards said Gibson was instrumental in helping NCC further its goals.
“He was really indispensable to us. He helped in our early progress. He expedited our interests in making up for the shortage in affordable housing. And getting the first supermarket, which was Pathmark, built. Because he had contact with the state and federal government,” Richards said. “He was a fantastic guy.”
Current Newark Mayor Ras Baraka praised Gibson for his service both to the city and the African-American community.
“He led in a tumultuous and difficult time as the city tried to recover from the Newark Rebellion. He will be remembered in his effort to live up to his words, ‘Wherever the country is going, Newark will get there first,’” Baraka said in a statement. “He set the stage for every African-American elected official in this state. We stand on his accomplishment and grow from his challenges.”
Before his passing in 2018, 91��Ƭ Founder Monsignor William J. Linder wrote about Gibson and how he was tied to NCC long after he left the board.
“What 91��Ƭ was accomplishing made Mayor Ken Gibson very proud, considering he was an original board member. More importantly, under his leadership, 91��Ƭ had prospered and gained prominent recognition,” Monsignor Linder wrote. “Gibson and 91��Ƭ were a winning combination.”

91��Ƭ Board Approves Four New Members

Michelle Lang — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 19:36:06 +0000

New NCC Board members Diane Johnson, Anthony Marchetta, Ingrid Rasmussen and Jerome St. John, left to right.

The 91��Ƭ Board of Directors has four new members: Diane Johnson, Anthony Marchetta, Ingrid Rasmussen and Jerome St. John.
The expansion to 11 board members is part of ongoing board development. NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba is excited to move forward in 2019 with a larger board.
“We are delighted to have dedicated and qualified individuals who have agreed to join the board to help carry out the mission of NCC,” he said.
Several of the new members have long histories with 91��Ƭ and all are committed to the organization’s mission: To help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.
“We have been very fortunate to have attracted four accomplished and well respected new board members to NCC. Each has a specific skill, experience and contacts to help propel NCC into its bright future,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman. “We have a rich mix of skills and community involved leadership in our board that will be a benefit for years to come. This is a major step in positioning ourselves to be a force in Newark’s future and I am thankful for their commitment to our mission.”
Johnson, who is the retired director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Newark Field Office, interacted with 91��Ƭ and Founder Monsignor William J. Linder for decades in that role. She became a consultant for NCC in 2015.
“I joined the board because I’ve always believed in the mission and the programs of 91��Ƭ and the various activities that they do to assist residents in the city of Newark,” Johnson said. “Whether it is families or seniors or children, 91��Ƭ has touched the lives of all facets of those individuals.”
Marchetta, who formed and currently serves as the principal of ALM Consulting Group, worked with Monsignor Linder when he was the executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) from 2010 to 2017. Monsignor Linder was a board member of NJHMFA for 43 years and 91��Ƭ also worked with NJHMFA on several projects.
“I’m honored to be part of this organization, which is legendary, and I’m happy it’s taking place with their financial house in order and with the town that they’re based in starting to see progress moving towards a more stable and positive future,” Marchetta said.
St. John is a retired judge, having served 10 years as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge, five of those years in the Appellate Division. He was also a councilman and mayor of Essex Fells and has been a volunteer for 91��Ƭ since 1985. He and his family became close friends with Monsignor Linder over the years.
“When I was asked to join the board, I knew that Monsignor was looking down on me and I couldn’t turn it down,” St. John said. “I want to continue Monsignor’s vision for 91��Ƭ and do whatever I can to keep that vision going.”
Rasmussen is more of a newcomer to 91��Ƭ. She is the vice president of Finance and Operations for the Heron Foundation, a private foundation based in Manhattan with the mission to help people and communities help themselves out of poverty. As a Jersey City resident, she was interested in volunteering for an organization closer to where she lives so she contacted the Victoria Foundation, which put her in contact with 91��Ƭ.
“My day job is nonprofit finance, but it’s what I do in my free time as well because I just really enjoy it,” she said. “Being able to work with good organizations and be helpful in whatever way I can has always been my goal and in this case in particular, I really wanted something that was closer to home.”
The 91��Ƭ Board of Directors is made up of the following members: Barry Baker, Fernando Colon, Diane Johnson, Anthony Marchetta, Migdalia Martinez, Edgar Nemorin, Ingrid Rasmussen, Newton Richards, Jerome St. John, Madge Wilson and Dr. A. Zachary Yamba.

91��Ƭ Hosts A Memorial Tribute To Monsignor Linder

Michelle Lang — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 20:19:12 +0000

91��Ƭ hosted A Memorial Tribute to Monsignor Linder: Visionary, Founder and Leader to honor its late founder, recognize his accomplishments and look toward the future to carry on his mission for many years to come.

Members of the community, NCC employees and friends gathered at St. Joseph Plaza, 233 West Market St., Newark, Oct. 23 for the event. NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba welcomed guests and explained that the occasion was a celebration of the life of Monsignor William J. Linder and a call to continue honoring his legacy.

“To carry out the legacy, the board asks that all those who support that vision join us in making that vision continue for the next 50 years,” Yamba said. “Because as you know, for 52 years, Monsignor Linder lived and worked in the city of Newark. He did not want to be anywhere else. This was his calling.”

Looking toward the future to continue Monsignor Linder’s work was a theme throughout the evening.

“Hope for Monsignor is that NCC does not continue on a nostalgic path of preserving what he had already accomplished in his last 50 years,” said Board Member Newton Richards. “Instead, his hope is that we build a bigger and stronger NCC with the capacity to fulfill the vision and transform inner cities into great urban communities.”

Diane Johnson, who served as the event emcee and is a new member of the NCC Board of Directors, said while the event was a tribute to Monsignor Linder and what he accomplished during his life, she also wanted everyone to look ahead and know the organization’s work will continue.

“91��Ƭ is not dead. Not because Monsignor is not here,” Johnson said. “We will carry out the mission of 91��Ƭ in this city, in this state. And when we get tired of doing it in Newark because there’s nothing else to do in Newark, we’ll go to Jersey City, we’ll go to Paterson, we’ll go to Irvington. We’ll go wherever we need to go because Monsignor did not leave us here to forsake us or those of us who need to be able to have hope. We will do what needs to be done.”

91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman discussed the many areas where NCC is working to grow, including renovating housing units, increasing workforce development, increasing security, increasing technology and looking at new developments. He also talked about the partnerships NCC has developed, including Rutgers School of Nursing, which will be opening a nurse practitioner led primary care operation in the NCC Health Care Complex, and the Leaguers, which helps with NCC’s early learning centers.

“We are open for business. And we are launching ourselves into the next 50 years,” Rohrman said.

Rohrman also talked about his personal connection to Monsignor Linder.

“He really opened my eyes to the injustices that existed,” Rohrman said. “He just grabbed ahold of me and he opened up my eyes and I saw what was happening around me that I never would have seen without him. And like everybody else, I joined.”

NCC Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson was a parishioner at Queen of Angels Church when Monsignor Linder was assigned there as pastor. She said he listened to the members of the community.

“He built everything upon the needs of the people,” she said.

From housing to day care centers to a nursing home, Monsignor Linder brought to fruition the needs and wants of those living in the community.

“I thank Monsignor Linder for having the vision to build 91��Ƭ,” Wilson said. “Monsignor Linder, you left your footprint here. And I want you to pray for us while you’re looking down on us and we will always remember you.”

Sister June Favata, administrative director at Saint Vincent Academy, said she admired Monsignor Linder, who she called a force of nature and a man of faith.

“He understood what people needed. And yes, he prayed for them. And yes, he led them spiritually. But the spirituality that he helped see in people was all about service, was all about kindness to your neighbor, was all about doing for your neighbor what your neighbor most needed to the best of your ability,” she said. “So how can you not love and admire him?”

Father Philip Waters, who gave the homily at the funeral mass for Monsignor Linder, reiterated a point he made about Monsignor Linder’s willingness to get involved in difficult situations.

“He was always a priest that was willing to roll up his sleeves and to get his hands dirty,” he said. “And I think that that was something throughout his whole life.”

Father Beatus Kitururu said Monsignor Linder taught him the power of love.

“It was amazing. He had the energy of loving people that was unlimited,” he said.

NCC Human Resources Manager Anna Sing-King shared her personal story of growth that was made possible by Monsignor Linder. As a child, she and her siblings were abused by their mother and put into foster care. At age 19, she gave birth to a daughter. She wasn’t able to adequately care for herself and her daughter and wrote a letter to God asking for help.

“I wanted more out of life but I didn’t know how to get it until I joined 91��Ƭ in 1994 through the Employment Center,” she said.

Sing-King started out as a temporary clerk in the Property Management Department and then got hired as a receptionist with HR. She has since been promoted to her current position.

“My life, my daughter’s and my family, all our lives are better because of the vision of 91��Ƭ,” she said.

NCC Director of Mission Frances Teabout closed out the evening tribute with a story about how hard work, dedication and asking others for help when needed is the way to succeed. She also talked about how the organization is still very much needed.

“The issues that existed at the time that 91��Ƭ was born continue to exist,” she said. “Racism is still a problem, police brutality is still a problem, lack of good jobs and good places to live is still a problem. So what does that mean? That means we still have a whole lot of work to do.”

She then asked who in the audience was willing to join in and help NCC continue doing the work that needs to be done. Everyone rose to their feet.

“91��Ƭ is still alive and strong and vital and making a difference in the lives of the people that God has commissioned us to serve,” Teabout said. “Long live 91��Ƭ. God bless 91��Ƭ. God bless Monsignor William Linder. And God bless America.”

Dr. A. Zachary Yamba Named 91��Ƭ Board President

Michelle Lang — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 16:18:50 +0000

Dr. A. Zachary Yamba now serves as the Board President for the 91��Ƭ Board of Directors. Photo courtesy of Dr. Yamba.

Dr. A. Zachary Yamba, who joined the 91��Ƭ Board of Directors in September 2012, was unanimously voted into the position of Board President.

The vote occurred June 26, 2018, with all Board Members present, shortly after the passing of 91��Ƭ Founder Monsignor William J. Linder who had served as the Board Chairman. Monsignor Linder passed away June 8, 2018.

“This board meeting is historic in the sense that June 26, 2018 will be remembered as the starting date of 91��Ƭ’s second 50-year journey into providing services and empowering our inner city residents,” Yamba said as he accepted the role of Board President.

Yamba was very close to Monsignor Linder. The pair met 55 years ago and became good friends. Yamba said the Board of Directors would remain true to Monsignor’s vision for 91��Ƭ going forward.

“Monsignor Linder left a grand legacy for those of us remaining to cherish, protect and most of all continue to grow. Dr. Yamba has a long and distinguished presence in the community and we are fortunate to have a leader who is so committed to our city and its residents,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman.

Yamba is President Emeritus of Essex County College. He served as President from 1980 to 2010, which is the longest anyone has held that position at the school. He was also involved with the institution well before leading it. Yamba joined the humanities faculty when the college opened in 1968 and served as Dean of Faculty prior to his appointment as President in May 1980.

He served as a commissioner of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools for more than a decade and is a founding member of the Presidents’ Round Table, an affiliate of the National Council on Black American Affairs of the American Association of Community Colleges. His other past affiliations include serving on the boards of the Essex County WIB, Newark Downtown Redevelopment Corporation, American Conference on Diversity, Christ the King Prep Academy, Council of Higher Education in Newark (CHEN) and Newark Boys Chorus School.

Dr. Yamba is currently also a board member of the Victoria Foundation, Regent Emeritus of Seton Hall University, ASA College in New York and the Two Hundred Club of Essex County.

A graduate of Seton Hall University, Yamba was awarded honorary degrees from his alma mater, Rutgers University and the University of Development Studies in Ghana. In 1980, Yamba, an All-America soccer player, was inducted into Seton Hall’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Board of Directors for 91��Ƭ is made up of the following members: Barry Baker, Fernando Colon, Migdalia Martinez, Edgar Nemorin, Newton Richards, Madge Wilson and Yamba.

Remembering Monsignor William J. Linder

Michelle Lang — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 14:28:41 +0000

Those who knew Monsignor Linder well shared some of their memories of him and their thoughts about what he meant to them. The following are their tributes.

Richard Rohrman
NCC Chief Executive Officer

Monsignor Linder many times saw more abilities in me than I did myself. I saw him do this with many others over the years too. He would drop me into a situation and leave me to figure it out on my own. He would ask, “How’s it going?” and was never shy in telling me it was taking too long, but this was his way of pushing me to expand my horizons.

I will never forget the day in 1984 when Monsignor called and asked me to meet him at St. Joseph Plaza right away. St. Joseph Plaza was in the midst of renovations at the time. He pointed out the empty space at the back of the Plaza and said this is going to be the only fine dining restaurant in the Central Ward. He then pointed to the north side of the space and said this is going to be a sandwich shop with New York deli sandwiches. He then pointed to the South side of the space and said this is going to be a Health Spa with a whirlpool and sauna downstairs. I told him that it sounded wonderful and asked him if the same people who were doing the renovations were going to manage the work. “No, you are going to do it,” he said. “After the design and construction is done, I want you to be in charge of opening and running the operations.” In the space of five minutes, I became a restaurant and health spa renovator, equipment buyer and a business manager. Of course there were lots of others involved but it they became my projects that afternoon.

He always had a bigger picture in his head. He had great confidence in people and many of us will miss that.

Madge Wilson
NCC Board Member and Outreach Coordinator

Monsignor Linder, a great legend that we have loved all of these years, slipped away from us recently and it still saddens my heart. However, spending the last few days with him while on vacation really made me happy just to see how much he enjoyed and appreciated life. It meant everything to me. He was a great friend for the past 55 years. Our love and memories of him will bear witness to all of the blessings that he brought into our lives and we have to preserve and honor that.

Having just celebrated and congratulated him on his 82nd birthday at a luncheon made him so happy and he remarked that it was the best birthday that he had ever had.

There have been so many great things said about Monsignor Linder and the wonderful things that he did to enrich and inspire the lives of others, especially the youth that are coming up in our society today. His scholarship program, for example. He was passionate about that because it gave the underprivileged youth the ability to learn and compete with others who were far more advanced. He knew education empowered the youth to lead successful lives and accomplish their goals in life.

Monsignor Linder was truly a visionary. It was after the 1967 civil disorders that occurred in Newark, when he was a young priest assigned to Queen of Angels living in the midst of the riot. He knew at that time after meeting with some of the people from the community that it became his responsibility to hear their concerns and attempt to try to improve the quality of their lives. This sparked a flame in his mind to research to build a new community for them and this is when the famous name “91��Ƭ” was born, because out of the ashes came hope and today he has built everything imaginable from day care to a one-stop shop to educate our families. Monsignor didn’t just look around and see things that needed attention. He took action and made it happen, a man of action and not just words.

Monsignor Linder’s mission of 91��Ƭ is to help inner city residents improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.

Monsignor Linder, rest in peace. We love you and will continue to carry out your dream.

Newton Richards
NCC Board Member

We mourn the passing of Monsignor Linder, our beloved founder, colleague and friend who successfully led NCC for 50 years. But he would remind us to keep our eyes on the future, expand and uplift the vision of prosperous and inclusive urban communities and make our mission serve as inspirations and demonstrations of what we can accomplish for the future.

Dr. Zachary Yamba
NCC Board Member

Monsignor Linder’s passing is not only a loss for his family and his church but also for the city of Newark and its people. His love and care for the residents of the city are prominently captured in the mission statement of 91��Ƭ: “To help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.” Monsignor Linder lived this mission statement.

I was privileged to have met Monsignor Linder in 1963 when he was newly assigned to the Queen of Angels Parish in Newark where I would come to worship on Sundays. Even from this early beginning, one could see in Monsignor Linder the social activist and a champion for justice and equity. His 55 years of untiring and unselfish work has, without a doubt, made a difference in the lives of people in Newark and neighboring cities. He will be sorely missed but his vision and legacy will continue to live in our city and in our hearts.

We are blessed and grateful to have known Monsignor William Linder, a man who lived his faith!

Edgar Nemorin
NCC Board Member

I will share two of my fond memories of Monsignor Linder.

1) Fourteen years ago, my father passed away at his residence suddenly. My parents lived in an apartment on the fifth floor where the elevator was broken. When I arrived at their residence after the paramedics confirmed that there was nothing they could do, my first call was to Monsignor Linder. Monsignor Linder, at the age of 68, arrived and went up five flights of stairs to give my father the last blessing. He and Madge Wilson also suggested funeral homes to contact. My family was very grateful.

2) I had the pleasure and joy of Monsignor Linder to be the officiant at my wedding in Long Island. For my daughter’s baptism, Monsignor agreed to do a reenactment of the baptism for my church family at St. Rose because the official baptism was held in my Long Island parish. Therefore, I brought all my Long Island family to St. Rose, and my daughter had her baptismal clothing to receive a special blessing.

We are all disciples of Monsignor Linder. To honor his legacy, I ask that we unconditionally volunteer, donate your time, God-given talent and treasure to help others.

Barry Baker
NCC Board Member

I first met Monsignor when he was pastor at St. Rose of Lima. I had just gotten out of the military and I was looking for a parish to go to. And I ended up going to St. Rose of Lima. He was really nice, he was very welcoming and all of that. I was there for about six months when I read an article in New Jersey Magazine about him. I’m sitting there and I was almost stunned. I had been going to mass for six months and I hadn’t known anything about his activism. I knew about 91��Ƭ but I didn’t know about his own personal activism. After mass we used to have this gathering downstairs in the church. I ended up talking to him about his activism. And one of the things that he consistently talked about during that day and subsequent years afterwards was that sometimes you’ve got to give truth to power, particularly with advocacy for the poor, because there’s nobody else who does that.

I remember he was talking about how he actually had protest against the archbishop of the Archdiocese. He told me, “He did not care about the poor. And if we don’t do that, then I’m sorry, I have to speak about it, I have to say something about it.”

If you’re not advocating for the people who can’t advocate for themselves, then why are you here? Why am I here? That was an overarching theme for his whole time at 91��Ƭ. There were some times where he would get into conflicts and issues with city officials. If they’re not standing up for the most vulnerable in our community, then we have to call them out for it. And that included mayors, council persons, congresspeople. It did not matter. His thing was, “I have to advocate for the people who can’t advocate for themselves.”

And one of the other things he always said: “Your enemies define you in some ways much more than your friends.” There are people you’re supposed to have conflict with. If they’re not standing up for the people, then why don’t you have conflict?

It’s not easy to stand up to people who have more authority or perceived power in the political structure. He was the kind of person that would do this in a way that was very courageous. He made you stronger. If there was a righteous fight to have, he was always saying, “It’s OK. You’ll get some backlash. You’re always going to get some backlash. At the end of the day the righteous will always win out.” And it did.

With his passing, of course we’re all going to miss him and we want him to be here, but for 50 years he gave us the blueprint. We don’t have an excuse to not do what is right. Our leader taught us that.

Migdalia Martinez
NCC Board Member

Father Linder and I first met when he was chosen to be the priest at St. Rose of Lima in 1977.

Father Linder was an extraordinary person. He lived his life helping people in need, a true servant of God.

There are so many accomplishments I can mention, but I think Father Linder would want to be remembered as a kind, compassionate, humanitarian activist who was always there for his congregation and community.

Father Linder has entrusted his nephew, Rich, who no doubt will continue to do Father Linder’s amazing work.

Kathy Spivey
NCC Chief of Staff

As I reflect on my more than 28 years of sharing with Monsignor, the one consistent theme that comes to mind is the importance of serving the less fortunate. His whole life’s history was centered around meeting the needs of others from infancy through the golden years. His commitment to service began in his early years while preparing to become a priest.

I met Monsignor at a State Employment Training Commission (SETC) meeting at Rutgers University in Piscataway. Little did we know that meeting would turn into a 28-year relationship. Riding together to SETC meetings we talked about the NCC mission, the first housing project after the riots (Homes Court) and the many projects to follow. Monsignor was convinced that housing alone did not address all the basic needs of inner city residents. They also lacked education, job training, employment opportunities, day care and other basics that one needs to have a sound existence in the community. Recognizing those needs, Monsignor sought to create an organization that would address them all.

He believed that youth and education was paramount. Starting with his first CYO group, he began to ensure that youth received a quality education through St. Rose of Lima Elementary School and the Monsignor Linder Scholarship Fund which provided scholarships to quality Catholic high schools. He believed that if given a sound foundation in elementary and high school, college and the funds needed would be easily attainable. As a result of his commitment to youth and education, there are hundreds of testimonials of the successes of the recipients!

I truly believe Monsignor’s inspiration came in the middle of the night because over morning coffee he would share ideas for new projects that would address another need in the community. Harmony House was one of those ideas. He felt homeless families needed stable transitional housing rather than shelters that stripped individuals of their dignity.

Monsignor felt it was critical that we never lose sight of “our mission, our purpose” and had mission statements posted throughout the network as a constant reminder of why we are here. In addition, he created the Director of Mission position to keep us properly focused on the goals and not the obstacles. If there was a need, Monsignor never let the lack of money stop him. He knew if our purpose was right we could accomplish any goal.

In his later years, Monsignor couldn’t continue his rigorous schedule but he did not believe in retirement. When asked when he would retire, Monsignor would respond “when all the needs are met” knowing all the needs would never be met. Using the power of the pen, he crafted Clarion editorials that addressed local and world issues of injustice. In one of our last conversations, he discussed our country’s appalling policy of separating immigrant children from their parents and was planning to write his next editorial on that dire situation. While we will never read his thoughts on that topic, we know he would be on the side of the weeping parents and children looking for a safe place to call home.

Monsignor lived a life of service that was grounded in the prayer of Saint Francis which was collectively recited at all NCC meetings and gatherings. As we honor his legacy we must continue to serve and pray. “Lord make me an instrument…”

Diane Johnson
Retired HUD Field Office Director

I’ve known Monsignor for a good portion of 30 years. As a director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, I worked extensively with him in developing his housing, his senior citizen buildings, his family developments and his Extended Care Facility. He was a legend in his own way. Monsignor was a people’s priest. He heard their cry, he heard their needs and he was determined to be of assistance to carry out those scriptures that talked about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked and housing those that needed housing. Monsignor transitioned the Central Ward and improved the quality of life for many residents. He dealt with the whole person, providing health care, workforce training and housing. It was just not bricks and mortar to him but it was to deal with the full complement of the person. His legend will live on forever. Newark not only lost a visionary, but they also lost a great friend. I too lost a friend.

Rosemary Eibell
Monsignor Linder’s Aunt

He always considered that 91��Ƭ was his number one family and that we were number two. He always said that. But he was always there for us when we needed him. When I had my heart attack, he was there. I was in the hospital and all of a sudden this man was standing at the door. And it’s him. That’s the type of person that he was.

We spent a lot of time together when he was the pastor of St. Rose. We used to come up and spend Thanksgiving at the Priory. And then his sister and his brother-in-law and I would stay overnight. We would have time to talk to him. He would tell us some of the things he was doing, where he was traveling and so forth. But he was also interested in what we were doing. And then the next morning he would say mass downstairs and then we would come up and have coffee and bagels and juice. And then we would go to his favorite restaurant and we would have dinner there. Madge would join us. And then we would go home. And it went on for many, many years until he retired as pastor.

My sister, his mother, was the oldest of the nine of us. I spent a lot of time with them. I traveled a lot with them. Because my mother died when I was 16 and that was sort of like a second home to me. So it was just a loving relationship with them. And they were always there.

Just recently, within the last couple of years, he landed in the hospital. The phone rang and it was him. I asked him, “How are you doing?” He said, “I’m in the hospital.” I never knew when he was going to call. We kept in touch with one another. His passing leaves a void.

Regina Adesanya
Member of Queen of Angels Youth Group

I still remember his first day in Newark when I was an impressionable 14-year-old, wondering who is this man joining the others digging the ditch. I knew then he would play a significant part in my life. From encouraging me and other youth to go to college, to that fateful phone call that started my career with Babyland Nursery and ultimately 91��Ƭ as its first Education Director, Monsignor has influenced who I am as a person and how my career has gone. He always taught us the importance of “faith” and that “faith without works is useless.” I believe without his example, I would not believe so strongly that we are servants and as a servant, we must act with the humility by giving selflessly of ourselves to better the lives of others. My road has been to work within the field of early childhood education but I doubt this would have been my path without Monsignor playing a role in my life.

Rev. Frances Teabout
NCC Director of Mission

“The collar doesn’t make the priest, the priest makes the collar.”

Working in the St. Rose rectory I was privy to many conversations between Monsignor and Kathy, his Chief of Staff. A frequent discussion was what Monsignor would wear to an impending meeting. On many occasions Kathy, in her very diplomatic way would say, “You’re wearing your blacks, right?” She was referring to the black pants, black shirt and white clerical collar that once donned would declare to everyone that William Linder was a priest, a servant of the Lord. But what the collar could not reveal was the heart of the man who introduced himself as Bill despite his many honorifics. Monsignor had an earned doctorate from Fordham University, was the recipient of 10 honorary doctorates, the MacArthur Genius Award and many other honors, but these were not the things he was most proud of. The NCC LPN program that graduated hundreds of students; the countless youth who benefited from his scholarship program and went on to college; the NCC Early Learning Centers that provide affordable, quality care and education for young children while their parents work; and the first extended care facility in Newark to serve Medicaid patients — these were some of the things that were most gratifying to Monsignor.

On most occasions Monsignor gave in to Kathy’s wisdom and wore his “blacks” to important meetings but some of his most significant work was done in everyday clothes. Day after day in his khaki pants and plaid button up shirts, Monsignor listened to people’s problems, solved crises and fought many political battles on behalf of the disempowered. Whether wearing a collared shirt or a flowered shirt, Monsignor had the same priority — changing people’s lives for the better. When I was young in ministry, Monsignor taught me how to put on my clerical collar but most importantly, he showed me how to live when I take it off.

Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins
Former Central Ward Councilwoman

One of my fondest memories of Monsignor Linder was watching him work hand in hand with my father, Joe Chaneyfield, and community leaders to bring the first new supermarket in 25-plus years to the Central Ward with the opening of Pathmark, creating thousands of jobs and helping to stabilize our community.

The most important thing I learned from Monsignor was his ability to empower people. Empower people through jobs, empower people through faith and giving them the courage to transcend their present conditions. This has become the cornerstone of what I believe and what I truly believe 91��Ƭ is about.

He will truly be missed.

Billie Jean Easley-Suggs

Monsignor Linder was a true leader within this community and a great example of compassion, faith and selfless humanity. He gave of himself to God and whomever had a need. And one of his greatest gifts to me was his belief in something that I hadn’t even fully realized in myself. He provided me with an opportunity to truly execute and realize my creative talents. He reassured my vision for the remodeling of the Priory and 91��Ƭ’s nursing home and gave me support every step of the way. He touched my family and has truly been an unforgettable figure within our lives.

There are moments that I will always hold dear in memory. Monsignor Linder has gone home now, led by the faith that guided his steps every day. He leaves behind a light and legacy of hope and love for all those that are still with us today and we will continue on in that same love and dedication to others.

May God bless Monsignor and stand with him as he enjoys eternal peace with our Lord and Savior.

Cecilia M. Faulks
NCC’s First Full-Time Employee

I met Monsignor Linder in 1968 when I was in need of some spiritual advice and my sister Mary, who was a member of the CYO at Queen of Angels Parish, suggested I speak to him. With his guidance, I resolved my issues. Shortly thereafter, I changed parishes and joined Queen of Angels, where all of my family attended.

By January 1969, Monsignor hired me to become secretary to Lewis Roland whom he hired the previous September to become principal of Queen of Angels School, making history as the first male, lay black principal of a parochial school in New Jersey.

During this same period, he was also spearheading the beginning of 91��Ƭ. My duties not only included secretarial work for Mr. Roland, but work for 91��Ƭ also. In 1973, when Monsignor Linder secured a grant from Victoria Foundation to open an office for 91��Ƭ, he offered me the job of secretary. Being secretary and the only employee meant you did everything that needed to be done in a construction office. Hence, him encouraging me to attend Seton Hall University where I studied accounting and later attending Upsala College and receiving certification in Human Resources Administration.

There are many other instances I can recall of how he impacted my life, particularly about service to others. He always stressed that 91��Ƭ is a service organization.

I thank him for the lessons of service and being a friend to my entire Moses Family from the beginning of his priesthood life.

Anna Sing-King
NCC Human Resources Manager

After the 45th Anniversary Gala, the next day when we had breakfast, my husband and I went downstairs and Monsignor was sitting there. And I was scared to go over. But my husband went over and he started talking. Monsignor really made us feel comfortable. He talked to us. He talked about my daughter, how great my daughter was. Monsignor being who he is but still made us feel comfortable.

One year during the Spring Festival, somebody fell or got hurt. My first reaction was to get up and go see what was going on and try to help. Monsignor said, “No, you’re not at work. Sit down, enjoy yourself.”

Another memory that comes to mind was at an Employee Recognition Ceremony. Some of the employees have long names that can be hard to pronounce. So I was at the podium giving out the plaques and of course you have to say their names. I could not pronounce their names. I was so embarrassed. I don’t remember the exact words that Monsignor said, but he looked at me and was basically like, “It’s OK because we can’t say them either.”

I think Monsignor set a good legacy. He helped a whole lot of people, probably people he didn’t even realize that he helped. I’m grateful for him having that vision.

Pat Foley
Original Editor of The Clarion

I went to Father Linder and I said, “I think we better have a newspaper.” He said, “Oh, what a good idea.” He said, “Give me some names. I don’t know what we would call this.” I gave him three names, one of which was the 91��Ƭ Clarion. There were two others and God only knows what they were because I never can remember them. The Clarion was the big trumpet that goes through the medieval times that brings the good news of the world. And that’s why I chose it. So then I put the three of them in front of Father and I said, “What do you think?” He said, “Oh I like that Clarion one.” I said, “I do too.” So that’s when the 91��Ƭ Clarion began. The good news of the world from medieval times became the good news in 91��Ƭ.

Father Linder always had his eye out for the goodness of what was happening down in Newark. He always looked for the good news down there and he certainly got it right until the very end. It became much more than a little thing in Newark. It really encompassed the whole world. Father Linder was just such a wonderful person. I miss him already. We did good things together.

Ras Baraka
Mayor of Newark

Monsignor Linder was a man who stood by and advocated for Newark during some of the most painful hours of our city’s existence, during and after the 1967 rebellion. When others dismissed or abandoned Newark, he rolled up his sleeves and went to work in Newark, creating the 91��Ƭ. Over the past 50 years, NCC has become one of the nation’s largest, most comprehensive community development corporations in the United States, offering an incredible array of vital services, ranging from affordable housing to workforce training to self-sufficiency programs to English as a Second Language classes, all of which have been nationally recognized.

Monsignor Linder’s legacy stands firm in the works of the 91��Ƭ and the many people he helped. All of Newark is grateful to him for his love of our city and commitment to it for the past five decades.

Ramona Galley
91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center Registrar

I met Monsignor at St. Rose of Lima Church where he was the pastor. I just moved here with my infant daughter. I was going through some tough times when I started attending St. Rose of Lima. I didn’t talk to Monsignor about anything that was going on with me, but for some reason he saw a need and asked how he could help. Monsignor didn’t only preach the Gospel but he lived the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was always looking to lift people up; to help them become their very best. He was the definition of the “Good Samaritan” — kind and very humble. When you are willing to walk one mile, Monsignor will walk two extra miles with you. He never gave up on people.

I went to say hello to him a few days before he passed. He looked a little tired that day, but still he asked if everything was OK and if there was anything he could do. I said, “No, I just wanted to say hello.” He sees beyond what you see in yourself. He believed in people. We will miss him a lot.

Father Beatus Kitururu
Excerpts from Homily delivered June 14, 2018 at St. Rose of Lima

His call was now to bring light where there is darkness; peace where there is violence; love where there is hate; respect where there is contempt; compassion where there is selfishness and greed; inclusion where there is segregation and discrimination.

Monsignor Linder understood very well that there is a lot of pain in the human heart. But he also understood that as long as one believes in the resurrection of Christ, there is no pain that cannot be healed.

Those who knew well Monsignor Linder realized that he never gave up on anybody. He 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.

Veronica Onwunaka
Extended Care Administrator and NCC Director of Health and Social Services

Monsignor William Linder — A GREAT MAN

In my mind, Monsignor Linder was not just a God sent but earthly redeemer. His teachings through the way he lived, acted, spoke and encouraged others to emulate, is what made him a saint. He believed in helping the poor, the oppressed, the voiceless and even the rich. Anyone who came in contact with Monsignor would leave with the spirit of wholeness no matter what your troubles might have been. I will forever remain grateful for him making me a better human being and hope and pray that God will continue to give me the grace to carry out all that he taught me. He will be greatly missed.

Father Philip Waters
Excerpts from Homily delivered June 16, 2018 at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

It was clear from the very beginning that Bill Linder was a priest who was not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty.

In his work as a priest, he preached the word, but more important, he lived the word. No matter how dirty his hands got, he confronted those forces both in the city and even in the church which worked against the dignity not only of his beloved parishioners, but of all the residents in the city.

Today we bid farewell to a community organizer, a role model, a pastor, but most of all, a friend. We ask not what he leaves behind, but what we will take with us.

Many other efforts in the city were built on sand, 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. But this man who was willing to walk with poor and the disenfranchised built a legacy which will last as long as the people of Faith are willing to grasp his vision.

He was truly a visionary and a prophet — a good faithful priest — and someone who was willing to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty.

Sammy, Helen, Sibonai and Mesgana Gebreyesus

Father Linder, thank you for sharing your faith, grace, strength, kindness, passion, vision, example, charity, humility, compassion, humor and unconditional love.

We admired you for being graceful, generous, gifted and courageous. You were a gift from God, always there to lend a helpful hand to others in need, special, kind, caring and loving for all of us. Father Linder had a huge heart of gold that was full of love. Father Linder, we are grateful for all of your support and for creating an environment of mutual trust, respect and friendship.

We had the pleasure of entertaining you in our house on holidays or beautiful summer days for the last 20 years it was a blessing. Thank you for the kindness you have shown our family and being a part of our family. You were a very special person. No one can replace you. You inspired us in many ways. Your legacy will never be forgotten. Rest in Eternal Peace.

Monsignor Ed Bradley
Minister to Retired Priests

Monsignor Linder struck me as a dedicated, loving priest with a positive mind, determined will and open heart. As I looked at the information in his file, I was astounded by the number of awards and other recognitions that were bestowed upon him for his work with 91��Ƭ. These came from religious and civil organizations and from national and international groups. Yet, with all this attention and adulation, he always remained focused on “helping residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.” There is a saying from St. Teresa of Avila: Bloom where you are planted. Monsignor Linder was planted in Newark from the time of his assignment at Queen of Angels Parish when he was first ordained. How wonderfully he used his God-given gifts — not only did he bloom but so did the people and the city of Newark.

Joann Williams-Swiney
NCC Family Resource Success Center Director

Monsignor Linder was an angel given to the city of Newark, N.J. We were blessed to have him in our lives and community.

Monsignor was a man of compassion, strength, fortitude; he was a great visionary with a love for the community and those who were less fortunate whom he served for most of his life. He was stern but humble and very approachable; and always made himself available to hear the concern of others.

He was a constant thinker of how he could do more to serve. Magis is a Jesuit principle I keep taped to my computer on a small piece of paper to remember in my daily work and life. Magis, which means an individual restless desire to do more, think bigger and work harder for the greater glory of God. Monsignor was the example of what Magis stands for.

I will serve the community always keeping Monsignor and his vision in mind. The Resource Center was one of Monsignor’s many visions. He wanted a place where people could come to receive the help that they needed and be treated with dignity and respect. I was fortunate enough to work for Monsignor’s mission and see many of his visions become a reality.

He believed in people having an opportunity to excel in their lives. He had faith in people and their potential for growth and his vision for them very rarely failed to come to fruition. I was fortunate enough to be in his midst.

He gave me the inspiration to be at my highest and best self. Over the years and every time I met with him I was struck by both the force of his personality and the quality of his intellect.

His passion shone through in everything he did. I, like so many others, will miss seeing him around NCC, but his presence remains all throughout the community.

Ali Jenkins
NCC Transportation

When I first started working with him, he was a priest and I was a regular driver. I didn’t know how to interact with him so I would just be quiet. As the years went on, we got to talking and getting to know one another. I used to ask him about how he first started putting 91��Ƭ together. And I asked about all the different things that went on in Newark. He told me because he was in the middle of it.

I miss him. I spent the past 14 years with him. I used to do a lot with him. He was basically like family to me because we did a lot of family stuff together, like taking him to Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers. I’m going to miss that. Because I really loved traveling with him. I’m still feeling the loss.

Ronda Lawrence
NCC Environmental Services Project Manager

When I met Monsignor, I was 12 years old. At the time, he was our priest and would counsel me. While counseling me, I was in the choir for him and I was a lector. My brother was an alter server and my mom was also very active in the church. He performed my graduation from St. Rose. I was a recipient of the Monsignor William J. Linder Scholarship, getting a full scholarship to attend Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair.

And from there, he married me. He baptized three out of my four children. He gave two out of my four kids their first communion. And he gave my oldest her confirmation.

Through all of this, I knew nothing of 91��Ƭ. He was just my priest.

And then I got a call from him asking me to work with him. I felt as though he knew that I was responsible enough for him to bring me into something that I didn’t even know existed and something that was so dear to him. That was the best out of anything. Because when I started working here, I realized how much he had accomplished. So knowing that he trusted me to come and be a part of something he established, that was the best feeling. And it still is.

Because of all he has done, it really made me feel like I owe it to him to give this place everything that I have because he made it all possible for me.

Shanell Sing
Teacher’s Assistant for NCC Early Learning Centers

“This Little Light of Mine” was one of the first songs that I learned attending St. Rose of Lima. As a young child I did not really understand what that song meant until I became older and able to work with Monsignor Linder. He allowed God to use him in so many ways to help others, my family and myself. Monsignor’s teachings and life experiences became a little light of mine. He not only talked about hope, love and faith but he walked the walk. To me Monsignor was a great and wonderful understanding man. It was my honor to be a part of his life and my honor to continue his legacy.

Andrew Solomon
NCC Environmental Services, St. Joseph Plaza

Monsignor was a very good friend to me, my wife Gillian and my son Ishmael. He put my son through Babyland, St. Rose of Lima and St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, where he paid my son’s school fees through the Monsignor William J. Linder Scholarship. My son went on to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. He finished his college degree and master’s degree. He is now the assistant director of residence life and multicultural student life at Saint Vincent College.

I’ve been with Monsignor Linder for 22 years. Over the years he and I have become very close friends. He had a great sense of humor. He was a very nice person. He cared about people. He was great to the people.

Martha Eleta-Iluonokhalumhe

An anonymous moralist once affirmed “the human mind is like a jug, no mortal can look into its recesses and you can only judge of its purity by what comes out of it.” As mortals, none of us, including the closest associates of Monsignor William Linder, could access his mind to decipher its purity or otherwise, but God in his infinite goodness had endeared Monsignor Linder with profound positive outward signs which in no doubt pointed to his inward grace.

Meeting him as a young mother became a life changing experience for my family and me. He became not only my spiritual leader but also my therapist, guidance counselor and a father figure. He listened to my numerous personal problems and counseled me, making me feel like I had no issues at the end. After every session with him I felt a huge sigh of relief.

He was a generous giver, he gave without any expectations. My children received scholarships from his scholarship fund which enabled them to receive quality education. My son graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. My daughter will be graduating in December and heading to medical school, Another child is currently attending Saint Vincent Academy with the assistance of Monsignor’s scholarship fund.

You gave me one last surprise when you showed up for a mass in memory of my late father in September of 2017; it reaffirmed the selfless person you were.

He was a humble and generous man of God and he had a great sense of humor. There will never be another Monsignor Linder. He was one of a kind.

Thank you for all that you did for my family. We will forever miss you. I will live life like you taught me so I will see you again someday. You are now an angel watching over us from above.

Rest in peace Monsignor, till we meet to part no more.

Tracey Battles
NCC Philanthropy Officer

I remember my mother would always talk about Monsignor Linder. He was responsible for converting my mother to Catholicism in 1975. My parents were a young couple and they came to talk to Monsignor about raising two young sons in the faith and Monsignor gladly baptized my brother and me in 1976.

Throughout the years, I kept in contact with Monsignor at different events and he would always tease me about working for the Archdiocese of Newark. “You need a real challenge!” He would always say. So in 2006, I answered the 91��Ƭ challenge and I had the honor of working with Monsignor for 12 years. I will always remember his sharp memories and how he could recall events and the “story behind the actual story!” I remember when he taught at Columbia University, we would make an annual trek to talk about our department. When we would discuss our role at 91��Ƭ with the students, I always remember Monsignor would discourage notes; he wanted us to know our job and speak of it from the heart and mind. I always felt challenged by him and no matter how well an event went, he would always ask me, “What can be done to improve the event for the following year?” He would always ask about my children and my own health. I will never forget that.

I will always be grateful to Monsignor and I will work to do my part to continue his legacy.

Gilda Rogers
Co-Author of “Out of the Ashes Came Hope”

I think we too often toss around the word “privilege” and “honor,” without really giving much thought to the gravity of these words. For me, it was a privilege to meet with Monsignor William J. Linder, and for over two years, to work with him on his memoir: “Out of the Ashes Came Hope,” which turned out to be a valuable learning experience. I had a reserved seat into the life of a self-actualized human being, who put the needs of others first. What better honor, as a writer, than to go on this journey with Monsignor as he discussed his covenant with God and his commitment to serve and illuminate the best of what humanity offers, and that is LOVE. There were hills and valleys, roadblocks and bumpy roads, but the mission was clear: To help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.

From a young boy, it was innate for him to help others. And born from that was a courageous spirit that defied the odds to make a difference.

There’s a humorous passage in the book, when the Linder Family is visiting with Great Aunt Agnes in Saratoga, N.Y., where little Billy is told by his Aunt what it means to be brave:

“Billy boy,” she would say, while squeezing my cheeks to make her point, “you get nothing out of life being scared.” With vivid imagery she fostered in me early on a sense of resolve and fearlessness. “Or you’ll wind up sleeping on a bed of nails and unhappy for the rest of your days,” she quipped. Well I didn’t want to sleep on a bed of nails for the rest of my life, so I chose to be brave no matter what.

We all should be so brave.

Zoraya E. Lee-Hamlin
President/CEO of RayZo Marketing

My favorite memory of Monsignor was when we had a discussion about him documenting his life’s story and all the things that he had done. Monsignor was very modest and didn’t like the idea of touting his accomplishments, not in the least bit. In fact several people had asked him to write a book and he refused. He was such a fierce warrior and advocate for those less fortunate and he didn’t think any of that deserved any kind of praise. People should just do the right thing, from a place of love, as he reminded us all when he spoke at the ribbon cutting for A Better Life, the homeless housing services building. We talked about how approaching things from a selfless point of view is important for all of us to learn and how important it was to have something documenting his life’s work, like his memoirs, because it would eventually become part of the historical archives of Newark, the city he loved so much. With that he agreed.

Alexandra Solano
NCC Accounts Payable Analyst

The world lost a great man in Monsignor Linder. He’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. If anyone ever had a problem and needed someone to talk to, his door was always open. He always strived for people to do better. He was always willing to help in any way he could to make the community better. A perfect example of his willingness to help someone improve their lives, he provided me the opportunity to send my daughter to a highly respected Catholic school and I will always be thankful for that; and in his memory, we will continue in his work.

Angela Potts
NCC New Start Program Manager

It began with a buzz in the air that a baby was found in the neighborhood by a dumpster, and as expected the community was heartbroken to hear the news. I received a call a few days later that Monsignor Linder was requesting a meeting with me. My mind began to race, playing the meeting over in my head several times before the actual meeting. I began to ask others close to him questions as to why he wanted to meet with me. No one had any answers for me. Being the woman of faith that I am, I prayed and waited for the appointed time.

While waiting for the meeting to begin, it felt like a lifetime. In rolls Monsignor Linder in a wheelchair to the meeting appearing a little tired but very much alert. The meeting began with me asking how he was doing and he wanted to know how I was doing. He wanted me to know that New Start, which is a baby program for at-risk moms, which is an affiliate of Family Service Bureau, had his full support. He wanted to know first-hand if we had what was needed to assist those who crossed our paths, and to be sure that they knew we are there for them. He said, “No mother should have to make the decision that mother made” to leave the child at a dumpster. With a heavy heart we concluded that we are capable of being the change agent for those who cross our paths or simply a ray of hope. I assured him that we seek to do that with every young woman that we encounter on a daily basis.

While I was gathering my things preparing to leave the meeting, he called my name, and as I looked up at him, he said to me, “Thank you Ms. Potts for all that you do!” As I reflect on the memory of that meeting with Monsignor, I pause a minute to look up and say, “Thank you Monsignor for all that you have done.”

A Life Of Activism And The Arts: Elma T. Bateman

Michelle Lang — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 18:13:42 +0000

Elma T. Bateman was an original member of the Board of Directors for 91��Ƭ. Photo courtesy of Celeste Bateman.

Elma T. Bateman was a lifelong Newark resident who loved the arts and was very involved in her community. She was one of the original members of the Board of Directors for 91��Ƭ and served the organization for 35 years. She died Feb. 12 at the age of 91.

Daughter Celeste Bateman said her mother served as a voice for the people during her time with 91��Ƭ.

“She was a parent with children who had to live in these apartments that 91��Ƭ was designing,” Celeste Bateman said. “She knew that families needed, for example, storage space. They needed a livable space.”

Celeste Bateman explained that her mother would argue on behalf of “the little people” and sometimes got frustrated that change wasn’t happening quickly enough. In the end, Elma T. Bateman did bring about positive change in the city.

“She was just such a shining example of how one person can make a difference. It’s a cliche but it’s true,” Celeste Bateman said.

Elma T. Bateman spent much of her childhood trying to find decent housing. She moved with her mother and siblings from one tenement to the next. That experience greatly influenced her work with 91��Ƭ. She didn’t want others to endure the same struggles.

“She was seriously committed not only to the vision of NCC but more importantly to the delivery of all our services in a generous and dignified manner. She wanted 91��Ƭ to be a cut above the rest of other nonprofit groups,” said 91��Ƭ Board of Directors Secretary Newton Richards. “She was really a voice. And she showed a lot of admiration to staff members who strive to achieve excellence.”

Cecilia Faulks, 91��Ƭ’s first full-time employee who is now retired, knew Bateman from Queen of Angels Church, where they were both parishioners before its closing. She said Bateman’s family was one of the first to move into 91��Ƭ housing.

“In the early years, she was very involved in 91��Ƭ and living in 91��Ƭ homes and the beautification of those homes. Making sure it was kept up, planting shrubbery,” Faulks said. “She was always a very active member with the organization.”

The arts was another very important part of Bateman’s life. She was involved in productions at Queen of Angels Church and held poetry readings at her home.

“Elma and the late Arthur Wilson formed their own club and named it ‘Almart.’ They would rent buses to take parishioners to see Broadway shows,” recalled 91��Ƭ Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson.

Celeste Bateman said her mother also loved to host card parties, carrying on the tradition of playing bridge from her own mother.

She described her mother as very generous.

“Anybody that needed money, she was always there with a check or cash to help them out,” Celeste Bateman said. “She felt like, ‘I can’t take money with me to the grave. Might as well share it with people now.’”

Celeste Bateman says she is following in her mother’s footsteps by getting involved in the city. She currently serves on the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation.

“We have all these fabulous developers, construction workers, architects, designers, engineers that have fabulous, wonderful ideas. But do they live and work in Newark? See the perspective of people in Newark? I’m that voice,” said Celeste Bateman. “And I learned that from Elma T. Bateman.”

Faulks described the funeral for Bateman as a real celebration of life.

“It was very uplifting with a band and people getting up to sing. It was just refreshing and left a smile on your face,” Faulks said.

Elma T. Bateman was married to the late William Allen Bateman and had three children: William F., who preceded her in death in l983; Celeste; and Felicia. She also leaves behind sister Bennie O. Fields; son-in-law Carter Mangan, Sr.; and two grandsons: Jamil A.C. Mangan and Carter Mangan, Jr.

91��Ƭ Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary

Michelle Lang — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 16:58:44 +0000

91��Ƭ staff, residents and supporters gathered to celebrate 91��Ƭ’s five decades of service and honor Founder Monsignor William J. Linder at the 50th Anniversary Gala March 3.

Guests dressed in suits and gowns enjoyed a cocktail reception, formal dinner and dancing at the Hilton Meadowlands in East Rutherford. Music was provided by , an all-female big band.

“The 50th Anniversary Gala was such a wonderful night. We honored Monsignor Linder for his leadership and vision and Madge Wilson and Newton Richards for their long service as members of our Board of Directors,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman. “It was also a much deserved opportunity to thank the 91��Ƭ family and staff who make us who we are, and support us every day. It was good friends, good food, good music and an all-around good time.”

, which has been associated with 91��Ƭ for decades, served as the Anniversary Sponsor for the event. The company has been instrumental in many NCC projects, including the recent completion of A Better Life, 91��Ƭ’s newest facility to serve the chronically homeless, and the current renovation projects at four of NCC’s Newark properties.

“What they did for us, especially with this event, they’re spectacular,” Monsignor Linder said of Claremont. “More things wouldn’t happen in 91��Ƭ if it wasn’t for them.”

Rohrman provided a welcome message and thanked everyone in attendance for their support and dedication to 91��Ƭ’s mission.

Monsignor Linder also provided remarks, commenting that he was happy to be present to see 91��Ƭ reach the 50-year milestone.

Mistress of Ceremonies Diane Johnson, retired field office director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and a consultant for NCC, talked about the many offerings of 91��Ƭ, which provides services to inner city residents of all ages, from day care to a nursing home.

Current board members Newton Richards and Madge Wilson received plaques recognizing their five decades of service to 91��Ƭ.

A highlight of the gala was the presentation of a video showcasing Monsignor Linder and stories from those who know him well. It also featured several people who have directly benefited from 91��Ƭ’s services.

provided the Cocktail Reception Sponsorship for the gala. Ferry Carpet, Newark Cabinets, PharmScript, Prudential, PSE&G and Silva’s Mechanical Services served as Platinum Sponsors. Gold Sponsors included Gensinger Motors, Jasinski, Medline, National Foundation of Affordable Housing Solutions Inc., Sandy Hill Foundation, TD Bank and Wells Fargo. 91��Ƭ thanks all sponsors for their contributions, which made the 50th Anniversary Gala possible.