Max Kass

Born in Harlem, he lived in Newark for many years before moving to Hillside in 1955. He moved to Lakewood in 1977, where he lived until moving to Manalapan in 2010. Mr. Kass then moved to Wedgewood Gardens, Freehold, in 2015.

Mr. Kass received his Bachelor’s Degree from Upsala College, East Orange. He was a World War II Army veteran, serving from 1941 until 1946, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. After leaving active duty, he was a partner in a liquor store in Brooklyn, and then purchased #333 Bar in Newark. In 1957, he started teaching 6th grade at Central School in Boonton, where he taught until retiring in1980.

A self-taught pianist, he also played the drums, and performed professionally for many years with his orchestra, the Marty Kay Orchestra. He was fortunate to play at receptions for Miss America Bess Meyerson and President Gerald Ford.

He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Pearl, who died in 2010, his sisters, Rhea and Esther and his great granddaughter Brianna Kaiserman.

Surviving are his children: Steven Kass and his wife Carole of Morganville, NJ, Elyse Lubitz and her husband Mitchel of Delray Beach, Florida and Ira Kass and his wife Pamala of Antioch, Tennessee; five grandchildren: Jared Lubitz and his wife Kimberly, Melanie Kaiserman and her fiancé Bryan Gallene, Jaclyn Kass and her fiancé George Dabal, Marley Kofman and her husband Samuel and Elliot Kass, and five great-grandchildren: Lindsey and Logan Lubitz and Brandon, Ethan and Alyssa Kaiserman.

Funeral Services will be held graveside on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at noon at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Shiva will be held immediately following the funeral at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel, 515 U.S Highway 1 South, Iselin, NJ 08830.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.