Dr. Marilyn Hart, 99, Beloved Mother and
Grandmother, Was Educator and Volunteer
Dr. Marilyn McGuire Hart passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, age 99 years old, peacefully in her sleep. She is from the “Greatest Generation.” They are characterized by commitment to marriage and family; a strong work ethic; personal responsibility; humility, and faith in God and the future. These characteristics describe Marilyn exactly.
Marilyn was born on February 19, 1926 in Jersey City, N.J., to Edward McGuire and Kathryn Comes McGuire. The family moved to Mountainside in 1934, in the depths of the Great Depression. Marilyn was Valedictorian of her class at Holy Trinity High School. She married David M. Hart in 1951 and had three children. While raising the children and working during the day, she started attending college at night. Over a period of 20 years, she earned her BA at Seton Hall University, a Master’s degree at Kean University, and a Ph.D. in Urban Anthropology from Rutgers University. Dr. Hart was employed as a Professor at Kean University for 28 years, and was honored to be named Professor Emeritus in 1995. Marilyn was pleased that her three children and seven grandchildren, including spouses, have 22 college and graduate degrees between them.
In spite of a busy life, she was always willing to volunteer for charities and civic activities. Marilyn was a positive force in the community throughout her lifetime. She served on the Regional High School Board of Education for two terms, from 1975 through 1981. After that, she was the first woman elected to the Mountainside Borough Council in the history of the town since 1895, and served for 12 years, from 1981 to 1994. Marilyn and David were jointly awarded the Mountainside Mable Young Good Neighbor Award in 1999. She served on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Specialized Hospital for 12 years. She also volunteered for the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Mountainside Music Association, and was Chair of the March of Dimes.
This inspiring woman had lived through polio scares, World War II, was very optimistic, a hard worker, was a natural born leader and believed in education as a way to better yourself. She was firm in her convictions, faith in God, attended church for over 60 years, and focused on the well-being of her family.
Marilyn was predeceased by her husband, David M. Hart (1927 to 2016), to whom she was married for 64 years, until his passing. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Dr. D. Michael Hart (Eileen), of Westfield, N.J., Ellen Richardson (Brad), of Dover, Del., and Alison Brafman (Ari), of Plainfield, N.J.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org/donate.
April 3, 2025
