Thomas Edward Glover

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him” Matthew 12:35 (NIV)

Thomas Edward Glover was born on March 25, 1944, to Grace (Morris) and Albert Glover, Sr., in Bayonne, New Jersey. The youngest of six children, “Eddie” as he was called by his brothers and sisters was baptized at an early age by Rev. Charles S. Watkins of Friendship Baptist Church in Bayonne. He attended Roosevelt Elementary School and graduated from Bayonne High School. He attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania for two years and transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson University before being drafted into the United States Army in June 1965. Following basic training, Eddie was assigned to Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia.  While stationed there, he was selected for the elite Old Guard unit which was tasked with ceremonial duties for the President of the United States, other Washington officials, diplomats, heads of state, and Arlington National Cemetery. Having been awarded a National Defense Service Medal and promoted to the rank of Sergeant, he was honorably discharged in 1967. 

While serving in the army, Eddie married the love of his life, Michele, whom he had met at the Penn Relay games two years earlier. They were wed on October 16, 1965. To this union was born their beloved daughter, Cherrece Anne, on May 23, 1977. Eddie and Michele lived in Montclair, New Jersey, in the early years of their marriage and bought a home in Irvington when Cherrece was a toddler. 

After leaving the service, Eddie worked for several corporations including toy and game maker, Hasbro; pharmacy retailer, Rite-Aid, where he was a store manager; and greeting cards producer, American Greetings. He found time to return to college and graduated from the former Newark State College, now Kean University, with a bachelor’s degree. He made the transition from the corporate world to the classroom where he was able to turn his passion for art into a vocation. He taught art for 18 years, spending 15 years at Irvington High School from which he retired.

Eddie and Michele joined First Baptist Church of Hillside in 1989. A member of the choir, scholarship committee, marriage ministry and men’s fellowship, Eddie was faithful in his service to God and the church.  In retirement, he continued to develop his drawing technique and was constantly sketching and painting. He and Michele were active with their neighborhood block association. He was also a member of the Irvington NAACP.

To have known Eddie was to love him. He brought light and laughter to any gathering. Blessed with a beaming smile, great sense of humor, and a loving and generous nature, he touched the lives of many. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, uncle, cousin and friend. He was the family’s unacknowledged genealogist and historian. He took great pride in staying connected with family members near and far. He leaves to mourn his wife, Michele; his daughter, Cherrece; his sister, Lorraine; his brother, Gerald; his sisters-in-law, Carol (Anthony) and Barbara; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Albert, Jr. (Buddy) and Morris; and his sister, Margaret.

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