Louis R. Possemato, a former member of the Hillsborough Board of Education, died on Aug. 16. He was 91 years old.
He was born and raised in Jersey City, graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in business, and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He was a member of the Hillsborough Board of Education from 1999 through 2006, and served as the board’s president during 2002 and 2003 and vice president during 2005. He also was vice president of the Somerset County School Boards Association, and earned the designation of Certified Board Member from NJSBA’s Board Member Academy.
In addition to his board service, Louis volunteered with several different community organizations, including the Hillsborough Police Department, the Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance, the Hillsborough Education Foundation, the local Credit Card Advisory Committee, and the Veterans Day Remembrance Committee. Louis was a member of the Elks Lodge # 1388, serving as state president from 1986-1987, and a member of the Hillsborough Senior Citizens Group, Chapter A, where he served as the organization’s president from 1995-2004. He also volunteered and served as a board member and past chair, member and officer in many Somerset County committees, such as the Handicap Treatment Center, the Children’s Center, the Police Academy Facilitator Community Outreach Program and the community advisory board, and Senior Advantage In Life (SAIL). Louis was an active member of the Mary Mother of God Church, and served as an usher, a trustee, CCD teacher, board member and chairman of many of the church’s councils and committees.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ann Marie Possemato (Gaglia), his daughters, Donna Fanelli and her husband (Don) and Christine Possemato, his son, Mario Possemato and his sister, Maureen Gray and her husband (William). He is also survived by his granddaughter, Lauren Teague and her husband (Collin), his grandson, Don Fanelli and his wife (Laura), his great grandchildren, Sophia, Alexandra and Joanie, as well as many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Louis’s memory can be made to the Somerset Children’s Center, 377 Union Ave., Bridgewater, NJ 08807.