Kenneth A. Byrd

Kenneth A. Byrd died on Tuesday, July 7 at Columbus Hospital in Newark. He was 66 years old, having been born on December 7, 1948. While a student at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City (now Saint Peter's University) Ken was an active member of the College's chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity, and participated in service projects at the school, and in communities in both New Jersey and New York, The national fraternity was unique in that at the time of its founding in 1925, banned racial or religious discrimination in the selection of members and also banned all forms of physical hazing. The fraternity's chapter to which Ken belonged was also unique in one respect, being the first chapter formed by students who attended college classes at night. He was also a teacher in the Jersey City Public Schools, teaching at three of its high schools, Dickinson, Ferris and Lincoln. While a teacher, he mentored his students and on occasion tutored them in their homes. For more than 15 years, Ken participated in a Juvenile Conference Committee, which tries to resolve cases outside of the criminal justice system of juveniles who are accused of minor criminal actions. He like to travel, and on many summers, visited Hawaii, especially the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. He is survived by his brother John, his sister Madelyn Cammerino and by two nephews, Scott and George and by a grandnephew, Dylan. Funeral Monday 8:30 AM from the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, 425 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst. Funeral Mass 9:30 AM St. Joseph's Church, Jersey City. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received Sunday 2-6 PM.