Elizabeth “Liz” Del Tufo

Feb 26, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), Education, Museums and Libraries, Politics & Government

1933-

Elizabeth Del Tufo was head of the Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee, retiring in 2025, after helping preserve many buildings and historic sites. She is a Newark historian, who for many years was known for her tours of Newark. In 1980, she was first director of Cultural Affairs for Essex County, and a founder and first director of the Newark Arts Council, and Executive Director of the Newark Boys Chorus. She is very involved with programming and restoration at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Elizabeth, born Elizabeth Burke, was raised in Montclair, and attended secretarial school and worked for Eastern Airlines, also working or volunteering in the Veteran’s Hospital where she met her husband. Elizabeth moved to Newark after marrying her husband Judge Raymond Del Tufo in 1959. Her husband had Multiple Sclerosis and after he died in 1970, she became the director of the swim therapy program for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, which had programs at Kessler and the Y of the Oranges.

Star Ledger Jan 23, 1966

By 1976, Elizabeth was already giving historic tours of Newark, chairing a Newark Tour program for the Newark Museum. This year she was also a volunteer at the Newark Museum and chairman of the Cherry Blossom Festival Committee. In May of 1976 she worked with Charles F. Cummings and Dorland and Betty Henderson to establish a foundation to preserve the Sydenham House, one of Newark’s oldest houses and quickly became a leader of Newark Preservation and Landmarks which had been founded in 1973. In 1978, Elizabeth was honored for her work for preservation in Newark, having led more than 70 tours, in the previous two years. The tours were now under the Newark Preservation and Landmarks group and The Item called Elizabeth “Newark’s best known tour guide.”

May 12, 1976

In 1980, Elizabeth became director of the Department of Cultural Affairs for Essex County. In the first year she planned a series of 25 performances in the Essex parks and a hotline which gave information on the events. In 1980, Elizabeth also founded the Newark Arts Council, serving as its first director.

As Cultural Affairs director, Elizabeth later helped establish Riker Hill Art Park, debuting sculpture there in 1985. She also helped with the Cherry Blossom Festival. By 1987, when she was elected President of the NJ League of Women Voters Elizabeth was also on the following boards: Ironbound Educational and Cultural Center (Vice President), YMWCA, the North Ward Center, the Newark Boys Chorus and the Theater of Universal Images.

In 1987, Elizabeth became Executive Director of the Newark Boys Chorus, a position she held for almost 14 years, retiring in 2000. She said, “To know the boys is to love them, walk through the school and you’ll get hooked.”

In recent years, after helping preserve 70+ sites with Newark Preservation and Landmarks she has stepped down and is focusing on preservation and programming in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. She has been honored many times for her work preserving Newark including an honorary doctorate from NJIT and the Charles F. Cummings Award, from Newark Landmarks, in 2025.

Bibliography

Photo from Newark Public Library Picture Collection (Liz Del Tufo at Dorer Exhibit, 2005)

https://www.npl.org/the-2017-john-cotton-dana-lecture/

Liz Del Tufo – nj.com

Newark Library Digital Collection 1 2

Elizabeth Del Tufo on Historic Preservation in Newark

Newark Landmarks

Oral History – Montclair History Center

Photos, Newark Public Library Digital Collection

Other Materials, Newark Public Library Digital Collection

“Judge Del Tufo” Star Ledger Mar 20, 1970

“Bond of Understanding” Daily News Apr 19, 1959