Columbia High School Community Mourns Longtime Coach, Teacher: Peter Cross

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood school community recently lost a beloved teacher, guidance counselor and coach when Columbia High School alum Peter Cross passed away.

The South Orange-Maplewood Education Association announced Cross' passing on Monday, stating that he was a “beloved teacher, coach and a wonderful guidance counselor during his 35-year career at Columbia High School.”

Memorial services are scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, at D'Elia Funeral Home, Route 70 and Vermont Avenue in Lakewood, the SOMEA stated.

“A proud U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Cross will be laid to rest in a private, family-only service at a military cemetery in southern New Jersey,” the SOMEA stated.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the SOMEA Scholarship Fund in the name of Peter L. Cross, SOMEA Scholarship Fund, c/o Athletic Office, Columbia High School, 17 Parker Avenue , Maplewood, NJ 07040.

Cross (class of 1954) is a member of the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame who has a special award named in his honor. According to the district website:

“A member of the 1953 and 1954 Big 10 Conference champions in baseball, [Cross] received all-state honors his senior year at third base. His biggest impact however is the contributions to the lives of countless Columbia High School students he made during his 35-year career at Columbia as a teacher, coach and guidance counselor.”

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