Max Kass

Max Kass, 100, of Freehold died Sept. 22, 2015. Born in New York City, he lived in Newark for many years before moving to Hillside in 1955. He moved to Lakewood in 1977, where he resided until moving to Manalapan in 2010 and then to Freehold in 2015.

Mr. Kass was a partner in a liquor store in Brooklyn and then purchased #333 Bar in Newark. In 1957, he started teaching sixth grade at Central School in Boonton, where he taught until retiring in 1980. 

He received his bachelor’s degree from Upsala College, East Orange. 

He was a World War II Army veteran, serving from 1941 until 1946 and achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. 

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A self-taught pianist, he also played the drums, and performed professionally for many years with his orchestra, the Marty Kay Orchestra. He played at receptions for Miss America Bess Meyerson and President Gerald Ford.

Predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Pearl, in 2010, and a great-granddaughter, Brianna Kaiserman, he is survived by two sons, Steven (Carole) of Morganville and Ira (Pamala) of Antioch, Tenn.; his daughter, Elyse (Mitchel) Lubitz of Delray Beach, Fla.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. 

Services were held Sept. 27 with arrangements by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan.