Obituary:

Thomas John Biglin, Educator and Singer, 77, of Nutley, died on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, NJ.

Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service at 11 AM Saturday, October 28, at Bethany United Presbyterian Church, 293 High Street Bloomfield, NJ. Funeral arrangements are by Van Tassel-Chickene Funeral Home, Bloomfield.

Born in Bloomfield, NJ in 1929, Mr. Biglin lived in Bloomfield, NJ until moving to Nutley over 40 years ago. He attended Bloomfield HS and received a Masters degree in Education from Montclair State College in 1951. After serving in the US Army, he began teaching and working as a guidance counselor in the Newark School system. Widely regarded as a caring and compassionate educator, he became vice principal for the North 13th St. Girl's HS in Newark. Later he served as a principal in the Essex County Vocational School System. After retiring from public education, Mr. Biglin worked for Howmedica, a division of Pfizer, in Rutherford, NJ.

Throughout his life he was very active in his church. He served as an elder at both Broughton and Bethany Presbyterian Churches in Bloomfield, NJ where he taught Sunday school and Bible classes. He was also a member of the bell choir and a soloist in the chancel choir.

Mr. Biglin's fine tenor singing voice was also heard in many of both The Montclair Operetta Club's and The Bloomfield Civic Chorus's productions of the 1970's and 80's. He also enjoyed playing the piano and was an avid golfer.

Tom (Pop) was a gentle, devoted husband, father and grandfather who provided his family with a wonderful, loving home. A kind man of great integrity and humor, he touched deeply all those who knew him.

Mr. Biglin was pre-deceased by his mother, Lillian (Merkel); his father, Thomas; his sister Joan Ehrenberg and his mother-in-law, Martha Vanderburg.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Elizabeth (Miner); four children, Beth Ann and her husband Mark Guiliano, Thomas Charles and his wife Gina, David Alan and his wife Karen, Susan Jean and her husband Eugene Jones; as well as seven siblings, MaryJane Garrett, Claire Babbitt, Janet Dimmick, Ronald, Jack, Edwin and Joseph; brother and sister-in law Ruth and Kenneth Vanderburg, 5 grandchildren; and 39 nieces and nephews.

[Courtesy of member #47535753]