Cancer Diagnosis For Former Mayor, Morristown Community Offers Support

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Former Morristown Mayor Jay DeLaney has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, according to his wife, Debra Gottsleben.

DeLaney, who will be 68 years old next month, served as mayor from 1998 to 2005. He also served on the Morristown Town Council from 1990 to 1993, as well as the Morristown Planning Board from 1988 to 1990, among other civic positions.

Gottsleben shared that DeLaney was diagnosed in the middle of July after visiting a local doctor after having difficulty swallowing. "He went to his family doctor who told him to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. He did that and they did an endoscopy and found a tumor at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach," Gottsleben said.

Despite having few to no symptoms, DeLaney was later diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which had progressed already progressed by the time they discovered the tumor. "Unfortunately it's stage four, but he was given somewhat encouraging news that there are some treatments available," Gottsleben said.

DeLaney has been referred to a doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Monmouth, which is where he's now going for treatment. According to Gottsleben, his team have made them aware of varying treatments that have been known to produce remission.

"We're obviously hoping for the best," Gottsleben said.

The community has rallied around the DeLaneys, with community member Mary Dougherty, wife of the current mayor, organizing a "food train" on the Morristown Stimulus Plan Facebook group for those who wish to help the DeLaneys with meals.

"That has been very, very helpful. I didn't think I was going to need it. I thought I'd be able to, you know, cook and, and do things like that. But I'm still working full time and it's just been really nice to come home and not have to worry about making, making dinner," Gottsleben said.

If anyone would like to volunteer for the food train, click here, there are still a handful of open spots.

According to Gottsleben, DeLaney's strength has declined while undergoing treatment, necessitating the use of a walker, but this hasn't stopped him from wanting to engage with the community.

"Getting out and taking a very short walk is like very, very, Good and beneficial for him. So, if anybody is up for doing a walk with him, obviously when Jay is up to it and the weather is good right that's also something that would be very, very helpful," Gottsleben said.

Gottsleben, who works at Morristown High School as the school librarian, has remained full time at work, making it slightly more difficult to drive DeLaney to his necessary appointments. "His brother has taken him for his treatments, but, you know, if anybody is ever willing to drive him to an appointment, I would say would be the other thing that would be helpful," Gottsleben said.

"Jay loves talking to people. It's always been his, his forte, being out and about and this is just a different way of being for the time being for him."