West Orange Was David Cassidy’s ‘Happy Place’ – Town Honors Beloved Singer, Actor

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following article comes courtesy of West Orange Public Information Officer Joseph Fagan. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

David Cassidy, the beloved 1970s pop icon best known for his starring role as Keith Partridge on The Partridge Family and a series of chart-topping solo hits, spent a meaningful part of his early life in West Orange, New Jersey. Long before he became a teen idol and international sensation, Cassidy lived with his maternal grandparents in a home on Elm Street, just steps away from Colgate Field. There, as a young boy, he played Little League baseball and created childhood memories that would remain with him for the rest of his life. His mother, actress Evelyn Ward, was a 1942 graduate of West Orange High School, who further deepen the Ward family’s roots in the township.

On Wednesday, July 30, the Township of West Orange formally honored Cassidy’s local legacy with the unveiling of a permanent historical roadside marker at Colgate Field. It was the very site where Cassidy’s love of baseball and community first took shape. The marker serves not only as a tribute to his formative years but as a point of pride for the town that helped shape the star behind the worldwide fame.

The dedication ceremony was attended by Cassidy’s children, Katie and Beau Cassidy, who traveled to West Orange to represent their father and celebrate his life. Prior to the event, they were received at Town Hall by Mayor Susan McCartney welcomed them warmly and expressed the town’s heartfelt appreciation for David Cassidy’s enduring connection to West Orange. During the private meeting, the Mayor spoke of the community’s deep pride in being part of his story.

The public dedication drew fans from far and wide, across the United States and beyond. Enthusiasts of Cassidy’s music and legacy came from as far as Australia and Poland, demonstrating the global reach of his influence and the powerful nostalgia Cassidy still inspires.

The idea for the historical marker took root nearly three years ago when two fans, Karen Ranieri and Barbara Collentine, who had never met before, joined forces to establish a David Cassidy Fan Club. Fueled by a shared admiration for the singer and actor, they led a grassroots fundraising effort that ultimately made the marker possible. All funds were raised through private donations from fellow fans and supporters.

At the ceremony, both Katie and Beau Cassidy delivered deeply personal remarks, reflecting on their father's life, his love for West Orange, and the comfort he found in the memories made in West Orange. They both described the town as their father’s “happy place,” a haven from the whirlwind of fame. Katie Cassidy also read a heartfelt message from her uncle, Shaun Cassidy, David’s younger brother and fellow entertainer, who could not attend the event. The letter, which was later signed by both Katie and Beau, served as a poignant tribute to the family’s enduring love and remembrance.

The newly installed marker at Colgate Field in West Orange now stands as a lasting memorial to a man whose voice, charm, and talent defined a generation and whose roots in West Orange helped shape the person behind the performer beloved as David Cassidy.

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