Long Valley Mourns Former Mayor, Community Volunteer Tracy Tobin

LONG VALLEY, NJ - Four-time mayor, 46-year resident of Long Valley Tracy Tobin died Wednesday afternoon in his home with his family, according to current Washington Township Mayor Matt Murello.

"Tracy was dedicated public servant, having served on the Township Committee for a total of thirty years, spanning five decades. Tracy served in every appointed position, including Mayor for four terms and Vice-Mayor for eight terms," Murello said. "Tracy was also a member of the Washington Township Veterans Association, having served as master of ceremonies for several Memorial Day ceremonies in Rock Spring Park, the Nature Conservancy and Audubon Society and is an honorary member of the Long Valley First Aid Squad."

Indeed the Long Valley First Aid Squad echoed Murello's sadness with passing of Tobin, an honorary member.

"Tracy was an avid supporter of Long Valley First Aid Squad, Fire Departments and Police in Washington Township. He had dedicated much of his life to Washington Township by serving as Mayor, Vice Mayor and other committee positions," the squad wrote on social media. "He will be missed greatly. Long Valley First Aid Squad extends our deepest condolences to the Tobin Family."

Tobin was also a supporter of Long Valley Patch, and even wrote a blog on the site discussing town issues and concerns.

"I ran for the Township Committee and wound up serving for 27 years, serving all roles including Mayor, Vice Mayor, Police Commissioner, etc. I stepped down in 2009 when my son was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer," Tobin wrote in his innaugural blog back in 2011. "In 2010, Mayor Ken Short appointed me to the Public Library Board of Directors and the Township Green Team. I plan to post blog articles on both issues facing our town now and where we came from over the years."

In that blog, Tobin noted that when he moved out to New Jersey from Long Island, NY, he and his wife wound up in Long Valley based on what they could afford and that one of their first winter in their home off of Route 24 the road department had to remove ice from the front of his house with a road grader.

"The ice was 18-24 inches thick and reformed every night due to the lack of drainage in the road," Tobin said.

Tobin noted in the blog, that his family initially were members of our Lady of the Mountain Parish.

"Until we were 'transferred' to St. Luke's on West Mill Road when the new parish was established," he wrote. "Washington Township was more of a farming town when we first moved here and it seemed the majority of the population was named Beam, Burd, Lance, Ort, Naughright, and Taylor."

Tobin retired from politics for good in 2014, choosing not to run for re-election. He was replaced by Murello.

At the time of his retirement, Tobin said one of his biggest accomplishments was work done on the committee to push for the town to turn the private library organization into a public one and associate with the township.

The night of his last meeting, Tobin told Patch he was slightly melancholy, but that retiring was the right decision. He also reflected on the committee itself.

"This is the purest form of government you can have in the United States," Tobin said. "We're always available, always out in public. We've had some interesting debates over the years. You're well served. It's been an experience, and I wouldn't trade it in. Thanks for the memories."

Patch will update this story when service information is available.

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