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Clara Maass
1876-1901 Clara Maass was one of the first graduates of Newark German Hospital and was named head nurse at 21. She served with as a contract nurse in the field hospitals of the Seventh Army Corps, among other assignments, including in the Phillipines. Her mother said, “Clara was a strong, vigorous girl able to withstand…
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Maria Jeritza Seery
1887-1982 Renowned Czech soprano Maria Jeritza lived in the Newark Forest Hill from 1948 until her death in 1982, after her marriage to umbrella manufacturing Irving Seery, who died in 1966. Maria’s rapid rise to fame, beauty and personality earned her the nickname “The Moravian Thunderbolt”. She performed throughout Europe and the United States, and…
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Marie Siconolfi Villani
1921-2021 Marie Villani was the first women in Newark elected to citywide office. She served as Councilwoman from 1973-1993. In 1973, after her husband Ralph Villani resigned due to illness, she was appointed for the remainder of the term, and then was elected. She said she believed a “woman’s touch” on the council would be…
