Community Corner

Summit City Council Recognizes Passing of a Legend

Edward S. Olcott was remembered in an obit handed out by City Administrator Chris Cotter during the Tuesday, May 16 Common Council Meeting.

Summit lost one of its giants last week — former councilman and 55-year resident Ted Olcott passed away on May 7, he was 86 years old.

Olcott's contributions to the City were extraordinary; in 1968 he served as chairman of the then newly formed Housing Authority at a time when there was still considerable substandard housing in Summit. He was a member of the Planning Board, the Mini-Bus Planning Committee, the Charter Study Commission and the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee on the Collins Plan, a development that was proposed for the train station.

Olcott was instrumental in the creation of the city's first Strategic Plan and served as chairman of Summit 2005, a long-range planning project for the city, later named "." For the city's centennial in 1999, he authored the book "20th Century Summit."

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During his nine years on Common Council, he served on the public works and the public safety committees and a term as council president. He was actively involved during a significant capital improvements in the city, including a new municipal building, library addition, and fire house renovation.

His community involvement included board memberships with the and and as an active member of .

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Olcott left a remarkable legacy of service to Summit. We extend our condolences to his wife Marion and the entire Olcott family.


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