RIP Art Gartenlaub

Long time resident of Maplewood.  Very active in the community.  Moved down the shore a few years ago.  May he rest in peace.

Art was such a nice man. We used to hang out with him when he ran Here's To The Arts. I've missed him since he moved, but I've got a lot of good memories of him. 

RIP Art. And thanks for all the music. 

Sad to hear - may he Rest In Peace...

Oh I'm really sorry to hear this. Art was a really good man. 

He was a veteran and marched in a lot of Memorial Day parade, among other things. 

Sad to hear this. 

Rest in peace, Art.

Sorry to hear this.  So sad.  

Willie, our condolences on your loss.  Hope we will see, and hear, you again in Maplewood.

so sorry to hear this. Condolences to his family and friends. 

Art was a good man. I always enjoyed his music. My condolences to Willie and his family.

I knew Art, and I'm sorry to read this.

Very sad to hear of his passing-we were big fans of "Art and Willie" in the 70's/80's heyday- then reconnected in town.  They did so many charity events and were so active in all aspects. Art -you will be missed -

Art was a great guy. I'm sorry to hear about this. Rest in peace, brother... 

Art was one of a kind.

I will forever remember Art whenever I think about this joke from my stand up routine (Which I did weekly at Here's 2 the Arts):

On one first date it was a beautiful day so I told this girl I'd take her out on my boat . . . .
But, she was sooooooooooooo impatient, . . .
These things take awhile to INFLATE.

Art's response (every time):  Which one . . . the girl or the boat?

jamie said:
Art was one of a kind.
I will forever remember Art whenever I think about this joke from my stand up routine (Which I did weekly at Here's 2 the Arts):
On one first date it was a beautiful day so I told this girl I'd take her out on my boat . . . .
But, she was sooooooooooooo impatient, . . .
These things take awhile to INFLATE.
Art's response (every time):  Which one . . . the girl or the boat?

Rest in Peace.

RIP Art.

Thanks for the jokes and the music.

He was a good guy. "...Arts" was a fun place to hang out at back in the day. RIP.

Thought you'd enjoy this, for those that knew Art, from the President of the Maplewood Glee Club, which Art was a member of:

For those of you who didn’t know him I’ll attempt to give a brief overview of Art’s life.

I assume that Art grew up in New Jersey. He was born of an unwed mother and adopted as a child. He told me one time that he attempted to discover his birth parents and found information that led him to believe that his father may have been Mel Torme, although he was never able to confirm it and after hearing Art sing, I find I highly unlikely!

I do know that he served in the Vietnam War as a Green Beret and was involved in some nasty action. After the Army he was a Cop in New York City and later worked within the Bell System in computers. He also said that he was a College instructor for a period of time. Art also became a rabbi.

Art was always involved in music and performed in a duet with his wife Willie at supperclubs and events around New Jersey in the 70’s and 80’s. He played the piano while Willie sang. Art also was a Studio Guitarist for Joan Baez back in her early days.

Art joined the Glee Club in 1994, the same year several of us. We all became close friends, probably because of our off the wall sense of humor. Art and Bill Lubrano, another Glee Club member were instrumental in starting the Doo Wop Group in the Glee Club. Bill was the replacement for Frankie Lyman as the lead in the “Teenagers”, one of the early Rock and Roll groups. Art would bang away on his keyboard and Bill would do his best to keep us pointed in the right direction. Great fun—much more refined today though. Art was a great part of our club and will be missed.

Art was a police officer in Newark during the riots. 

I seem to recall Art telling me that he had been a spy. 

RIP

My condolences to his friends and family.  

For all of you who knew Art and Willie Gartenlaub, then you know how much they cared for others and dedicated so much of themselves to their friends and communities.  Due to his lengthy illness, involving multiple surgeries and hospitalizations medical expenses consumed all of their savings and Willie finds herself in a desperate financial state facing these tremendous bills that she is unable to pay.  A gofundme page has been set up in Memory of Art to help Willie pay of these tremendous debts. 

Please consider honoring Art with a donation to help Willie pay the numerous bills for Art’s end-of-life care, medical expenses, and burial costs. Any donation you can make (no matter how small) will be greatly appreciated. Additionally, please help spread the word about his passing and this gofundme campaign to others who knew him.

https://www.gofundme.com/gzjp4b-helping-willie&rcid=r01-15461831579-48577ed08f0e4ea3&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_m

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