1887-1955
Rose Kussy was president of the West Side Trust Company after the death of her husband. She was a director of the Jewish News. She was a member and secretary of the Newark Central Planning Board.
Rose was appointed to the Planning Board in 1943, was Secretary of the Planning Board as early as 1944 and reappointed by Mayor Murphy in 1949 for another 5 year term.
Rose was named outstanding Jewish Citizen of 1942 by the Essex County Council on Jewish Agencies.
In civic work, Rose was president of the Theresa Grotta Home (1934-1936) and vice president of the Conference of Jewish Charities (1937-1940). She was active in the Red Cross during both World Wars, chairman of the camp and hospital service of the Red Cross during WWII, on the board of the Red Cross, vice chairman of the Women’s Division of the Newark Community Chest in 1941 and on the executive council of the USO during WWII, as well as vice chairman of its women’s division.
Rose was a trustee of the Newark Welfare Federation, vice president and board member for the YMYMHA, board member of the Griffith Foundation, and director of the board for the Jewish Child Guidance Bureau.
In religious work, Rose was for many years she was treasurer of the NJ Branch of the Women’s League of United Synagogues, as well as a member of Hadassah, the Council for Jewish Women, and a board member of the Miriam Auxiliary for Oheb Shalom Synagogue.
Rose was born in Czechoslovakia and came to Newark around 1894, according to census records, where she lived at 290 Springfield Ave. Sarah Kussy‘s reminiscences of Newark state that the Kussy family owned this land. Rose was a 2nd cousin of the Kussy family and Sarah’s parents helped bring many relatives to the country.
She was a graduate of Barringer (Newark) High and Newark Normal School where she graduated in 1905 (Kean). She taught in Newark Schools 1904-1909. While teaching at Bergen Street, sge was credited with helping lead children safely from the building after a construction collapse.
Rose married Meyer Kussy in 1909 and was the sister-in-law of Sarah Kussy. She was also a trustee of Oheb Shalom synagogue.
Bibliography
“Mrs. Kussy Dies at 67” Newark News Jan 6, 1955
Census records
Cummings, Charles F. “Women Who Made their Mark on City” Star Ledger Jun 20, 2002
“A Woman of Valor” New Jersey Jewish News Jan 14, 1955
Notable Czech and Slovak Americans
“An Early Resident Recalls Jewish Life in Newark” Jewish News Dec 18 1964
“Mrs. Kussy Reappointed” Newark News Jan 9, 1949.
“Normal School Graduates” Newark News Jun 23, 1905
Board of education Reports, teacher lists
“Planning Board Members Named” Newark News July 22, 1943
“Hundreds of Parents on the Scene Fear Stricken” Newark Star Apr 23, 1908
“Marriages” Newark Star Nov 12, 1909
“November’s Many Weddings” Sunday Call Nov 14, 1909
“Roof of New Addition to Bergen Street School Falls on Workmen” Newark News April 23, 1908