Obituary of Lynn V. Profeta

On Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, Lynn Virgilio Profeta, 100 years old, of Maplewood passed away. She was the beloved wife of the late Fred R. Profeta, Sr.; devoted mother of Fred R. Profeta Jr. and Paul V. Profeta; loving grandmother of Timothy H. Profeta, Katherine Profeta Bodow, Kristine Gedroic and Victoria Profeta; she is also survived by six great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, on Wednesday, Sept 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Interment is private. A memorial service will be held at Morrow Memorial Church, 600 Ridgewood Rd., Maplewood, on Sunday, Oct 4, at 2 p.m. Lynn grew up in Queens, N.Y., the daughter of immigrants from Salle, Italy. As a child, she and her sister worked hard on their father's flower farm in Clearview. After public school education in Whitestone, she earned her bachelor's degree at Adelphi College. Teaching certification was received at Columbia University. She then began a long teaching career, starting at Bayside High School. Lynn married Fred R. Profeta, Sr. in 1934. Fred was born in Salle, Italy, and emigrated to this country in 1906 when he was three. He became a lawyer who practiced in Manhattan. The couple moved to Maplewood, N.J., in 1941, two years after the birth of their first son, Fred Jr. Son Paul was born in 1944. Lynn returned to teaching in 1950, taking a position as a Latin, Spanish, and English teacher at Maplewood Junior High School. She would remain at that school for 30 years, becoming a guidance counselor in 1955. It was here that she compiled an outstanding career, educating thousands and leading many to say that she was simply the best teacher they ever had. The new Columbia High School football field in Maplewood was named in her honor in 2008. After retirement from education, Lynn began a new career in real estate management. She focused her energies on managing the Lynn V. Profeta Professional Building at 1230 Millburn Avenue in Maplewood. The building is owned by her son, Paul. Tenants at the building remember her dedication to quality, her attention to detail, and her personable nature - a quality which distinguished her relationships throughout life. Devotion to family was another key feature of Lynn's life. She and Fred Sr. nurtured their two sons well, imbuing them with a desire to achieve. She lavished the same care and affection on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The other important recipient of Lynn's attention in later life was Morrow Memorial Methodist Church in Maplewood, where she became active in many groups after the end of her teaching career in 1980. Some of Lynn's deepest friendships were forged at Morrow Church. In their later years, Lynn and Fred Sr. traveled extensively, visiting Europe, China, Russia, and the Caribbean. Fred Sr. died in 1996 at the age of 92. In lieu of flowers donations to South Orange Maplewood Education Foundation, PO Box 84, Maplewood, NJ 07040 or Profeta Urban Investment Foundation c/o Paul V. Profeta 769 Northfield Ave., Suite 250, West Orange, NJ 07052 would be appreciated.