MANVILLE:Former Mayor Marion Dudash remembered as a ‘tremendous person’

By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
   She worked hard as Manville’s mayor, trying to lead through difficult financial times, but lifelong Manville resident Marion Dudash will be remembered just for being who she was.
   Ms. Dudash, 63, died Monday at Somerset Medical Center.
   ”She was a great person,” said Bill Poch, of North Eighth Avenue, who served on the council while Ms. Dudash was mayor. “She was very nice and always doing things for the community.”
   Ms. Dudash graduated from Manville High School in 1963, and worked with the RCA Corporation, in Princeton, before spending 20 years with NJ Savings Bank, and retiring four years ago from Provident Bank.
   Serving two terms as mayor, from 1979 to 1987, Ms. Dudash led the town after the close of the Johns-Manville plant.
   ”We were holding the line and providing services while keeping taxes at a rate people could pay,” said resident Rudy Nowak, who served on council while she was mayor, then took on the role after she finished her second term.
   Mr. Nowak said he remembers several times where they disagreed on issues. When the Arc of Somerset County was looking to open in Manville, he said, he was against opening it on Main Street in a building that could prove to be a tax ratable with a commercial business.
   ”She pushed hard for it,” he said. “I advocated giving land to the Arc in Lost Valley where they could build a school and playground instead.”
   Still, Mr. Nowak said, Ms. Dudash always knew what had to be done and she worked hard for the town itself.
   ”She was very strong-headed and strong-willed,” he said. “We were in different parties, but we worked well together. We were friendly adversaries.”
   Before taking a position on council in the 1970s, Mr. Nowak said Ms. Dudash served on the Board of Health, as her first foray into local politics. Although it was a routine job, he said, Ms. Dudash enjoyed the work of putting together health programs, fundraisers and other activities.
   ”The Board of Health was very near and dear to her heart,” he said. “She got satisfaction from it. She could do things she could feel good about.”
   As mayor of the town, she was involved with the children of the town and the local schools, and was always available to answer questions or speak about problems, according to former Mayor Angelo Corradino.
   ”She was a tremendous person,” he said. “She was honest with no ulterior motive.”
   Despite all her hard work for the town, Mr. Nowak said, when Ms. Dudash ended her second term, she left politics altogether.
   ”She never looked back,” he said.” When she left the mayor position, that was the last she wanted to talk about politics. When she walked away from politics, she walked away completely.”
   Still, Mr. Poch said that although she worked hard in her position, Ms. Dudash never wanted to be the center of attention, just tried to get the job done.
   ”She never wanted the limelight,” he said. “She would just do things to the best of her ability.”
   Ms. Dudash is survived by her brother Joseph Dudash, of Virginia; her niece Estee LaClare and her husband Edward, of Virginia; her nephew Joseph, of Virginia; her grandnephews Matthew and Edward LaClare; her grandniece Kelsey Dudash; and her godson, Ronald Petras, of Montgomery.
   Ms. Dudash was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Dudash, and her sister-in-law, Linda Dudash.
   The viewing will be held Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ketusky Funeral Home, on Brooks Boulevard. The funeral will be Saturday at 8:15 a.m. at the Ketusky Funeral Home.
   Burial will follow the service at Sacred Heart Cemetery, in Hillsborough.
   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ms. Dudash’s memory to The Friends of Somerset Regional Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 8073, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.