‘Incredible Void To Fill’ After Montclair Community Leader Dies

MONTCLAIR, NJ — With the passing of longtime community leader Albert Pelham, Montclair has been left with an incredible void to fill – but also a legacy of inspiration.

Members of the Montclair Township Council were among those mourning Pelham after he died Thursday, surrounded by his loving family. In a joint statement, the council called Pelham a “proud native and community leader in Montclair,” and said his contributions to his hometown have an incredible legacy.

“Mr. Pelham was a part of my life since I was seven years old playing basketball at Glenfield Park,” Fourth Ward Councilor David Cummings said.

“He was an inspiration, a source of support, and a straight shooter who helped thousands of people,” Cummings added. “We will never be able to replace him, but we must do all we can to keep his spirit and legacy alive.”

Montclair town officials gave the following background about the beloved community leader:

“A 1968 graduate of Montclair High School, Mr. Pelham graduated from Bloomfield College. Known as ‘Alpine’ and ‘Pine,’ Mr. Pelham loved sports, people, and helping the less fortunate. This was exemplified by his work for two local nonprofit agencies, the State Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) and the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation (MNDC), and stewardship as the president of the Montclair NAACP and Montclair African American Heritage Foundation.”

Montclair officials continued:

“Mr. Pelham’s mission in life was to empower families and inform and involve professionals and other individuals in the healthy development and educational rights of children. Under Mr. Pelham’s leadership, the MNDC endeavored to support disadvantaged individuals, youth and families to achieve an improved quality of life through training, education and advocacy. One of his greatest personal achievements was starting a summer program called Project Oasis 24 years ago. The goal of Project Oasis is to work towards bridging the academic achievement gap for Montclair African American youth between the ages of 13 to 18, while creating a safe haven for them to learn and have fun. The objective was and continues to be the coalition between the board of education, the police department, Essex County, and the Township of Montclair. Since its conception, thousands of young people have participated in Project Oasis.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. also offered a message of condolence after hearing of Pelham’s death.

“Today Essex County and Montclair lost a great community leader and friend with the passing of Albert Pelham,” DiVincenzo said. “Al was deeply engaged in the township and county he loved, and was a welcoming presence at Essex County Glenfield Park. It was our honor to recognize him and the Montclair NAACP in 2019. Our deepest condolences go out to his family.”

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill of District 11, which includes parts of Montclair, also expressed her condolences for Pelham. She wrote:

“I am deeply saddened by the news of Al Pelham’s death. His leadership and passion for serving his community, fighting for justice, and supporting students throughout Montclair has undoubtedly left this community a better place. Al, himself a graduate of Montclair High, selflessly worked to ensure all students had the resources to help them reach their full potential and get the most out of their education. At the beginning of the pandemic, he saw right away how COVID-19 would impact our community. He jumped into action to help address the isolation students faced by seeking out community centers where students could go to learn when classrooms were closed. I was honored to have known Al and to call him my friend. The counsel he gave me and so many others over the years will continue to impact us and the entire Montclair community for generations to come. My condolences are with his family during this time.”

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