Longtime Weehawken Finance Director and Board of Education President Richard Barsa has died due to complications from COVID-19, officials announced this afternoon.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we inform you Richard ‘Rich’ Barsa Sr., the Weehawken School Board President and Weehawken Finance Director, passed away this morning of complications from COVID-19 at an area hospital,” Mayor Richard Turner, Superintendent of Schools Eric Crespo, and Township Manager Gio Ahmad said in a joint statement.
Barsa, 65, was a lifelong Weehawken resident who is survived by his wife of 41 years, Diane, his son Richard, Jr., his daughter-in-law to be Jaimie, his brothers George, Robert, and Paul, and his sister Adele – along with many nephews and nieces.
Additionally, he had served on the school board for three decades, serving as the head of the governing body for 25 of those years. He became Township Finance Director in 1994 and was also a member of the planning board.
He’s also credited for the his roles in creating the Weehawken Education Foundation, chairing the Waterfront Park Design Committee, and overall just being a “dynamic and well-regarded” member of the community.
“Rich dedicated his life to the Weehawken community. We will miss him greatly, as will all who came in contact with him,” the three township officials concluded.
The afternoon, the New Jersey Department of Health declared that there are 34,124 cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey, including 3,491 cases in Hudson County – along with 78 deaths, both the third most in the state by county.
As of yesterday evening, there had been 71 confirmed coronavirus cases in Weehawken, 16 of whom had made a full recovery. The township had also disclosed two previous deaths.
Richard Barsa was a gentleman and great human being. I bought my home in Weehawken through his wife’s real estate agency. I worshipped with Richard at St. Lawerence where at the 8 A.M. service he collected the offering. I will always remember his smile and warmth. To his family please accept my condolences and may God give you all the strength during this difficult time. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Richard R. I. P.