Michael S. Goldberger, Beloved Husband,
Father, Grandfather, Friend, Film Critic

Michael S. Goldberger, beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle and Friend, of Westfield, N.J., passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones. He was 78 years old.

Michael was born on December 21, 1946 in Pfarrkirchen, Germany, to the late Daniel and Dora, both Holocaust survivors from Poland. He emigrated to the United States in 1947 with his parents and his late sister, Anna Palasnick.

Michael, better known as “Bear,” a nickname given to him by his very close group of “guys” from Newark, was a Supervisor for Essex County Welfare for more than 30 years. His generosity and compassion, along with his strong sense of ethics and integrity, touched the lives of many. Michael’s greatest passion, aside from his family, cars, movies and hot dogs, was his writing, which was both witty and sensitive; sharp and poetic. He was an award-winning Editor-in-Chief of The Citizen newspaper in Elizabeth, N.J., for 20 years and had a syndicated film column, “Popcorn,” for over 40 years, which also appeared in The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains Fanwood Times.

Michael grew up in the Weequahic section of Newark, N.J. He was a proud graduate of Weequahic High School, Class of 1964. He received his BA from Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, and his MA from Fairleigh Dickinson in Madison, N.J. Surviving are his devoted and loving wife of 47 years, Joanne; his cherished daughter, Erin, and her husband, Andy; his precious grandson, Alphonse, who affectionately called him PaPa Bear, and many special nieces, nephews, friends, dogs and sports cars.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Michael’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center or the American Heart Association.

January 30, 2025