Ex-Livingston Football Coach Passes Away: Dave Curtin

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — On Aug. 10, the Essex County school sports world lost a longtime coach and teacher, Dave Curtin, a former P.E. teacher and athletic director at Columbia High School in Maplewood, after a battle with cancer.

Curtin also recently served as the freshman football coach at Livingston High School and the track and field coach at New Providence High School.

Curtin, who turned 58 last week, previously taught and coached football at Wardlaw Hartridge, Malboro, Roselle Catholic and Brearly High Schools.

The South Orange-Maplewood Education Association (SOMEA) posted a message about Curtin’s passing on its Facebook page Thursday, writing that the N.Y. Mets and N.Y. Jets fan “will be truly missed.”

Monetary donations to the SOMEA Scholarship Fund in honor of Curtin can be sent to Amy Singer at Columbia High School.

Livingston school officials also posted a message about Curtin’s passing.

“The extraordinary bond that Coach Curtin established with players and parents alike provided us an opportunity to witness what happens as a result of great teaching, coaching and character,” said David Cohen, the athletic director at Livingston High School.

“We are very proud and thankful for Coach Curtin’s greatest accomplishment: the positive impact he has had on our athletes, which will remain with them for the rest of their life,” Cohen added. “He will be missed.”

A GoFundMe campaign was started in May to benefit Curtin’s recovery efforts.