Dr. Kenneth Conte, a member of the Garfield Board of Education, died of complications related to COVID-19 on Thursday, April 23. He was 77 years old. He was first elected to the board in 1986; he also served as board president and vice president.
Born in Passaic, Kenneth Conte graduated from Villanova University and Kansas City University of Medicine and Biological Sciences. He completed his internship at Memorial General Hospital in Union, and joined his brother in private practice.
He held many positions outside of his medical practice. He was the former medical director and chief of staff at Kennedy Memorial Hospital at Saddle Brook, former medical director of the Senior Outreach Programs of Lodi, Lyndhurst and Fairview, a member of the family practice department at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, and the correctional health physician for Bergen County for 21 years. He also was the founder and medical advisor of the county’s first high school EMT program at Garfield High School.
He served as deputy mayor of Garfield from 1972 to 1976, and was a councilman from 1976 to 1980.
Dr. Conte was a fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathic Family Physicians, a diplomat of the American Osteopathic Board of General Practice, and was board certified in family practice. He received many honors, including Citizen of the Honor Legion of Police Departments of the State of New Jersey; Citizen of the Year and Silver Card Recipient of the Garfield NJ PBA Local 46; Saddle Brook Unico Citizen of the Year; Citizen of the Year Garfield Volunteer Ambulance Corps; and Man of the Year City of Garfield and Borough of Lodi.
Dr. Conte is survived by his brother, Dr. Daniel P. Conte, Jr., and was predeceased by his sister-in-law Barbara Rose Conte. He is also survived by his nephew Dr. Daniel P. Conte, III and his wife Lesli, his niece Stacey Conte Susini and her husband Carl, his niece Jamie Kreshpane and her husband Karl, his great nephews Karl Jr. and Cole Kreshpane, and his great niece Nicolette Kreshpane.
Private services were held on April 30. Donations can be made to the “Dr. Kenneth S. Conte Scholarship Fund.” This scholarship will benefit Garfield High School students pursuing a career in the medical field.
Checks can be made payable to: Dr. Kenneth S. Conte Scholarship Fund, and sent to KenDan Medical Center, 600 Midland Avenue, Garfield, NJ 07026.