Alan F. Savitt

Savitt, Rev. Alan, 73, of Clifton passed away on November 12, 2020. Beloved brother of Karen Knust of Williamsburg, VA & the late Stephen A. Savitt. Uncle to Dr. Lisa Knust of Newport News, VA. He is also survived by his beloved friend and colleague Sister Pauline Kuntne RSM who assisted him at the Passaic County Council in Clifton.

Father Savitt was born in Passaic and grew up in Clifton and had his faith and vocation nurtured at home and by the priest and sisters who served his home parish of Holy Trinity in Passaic. He graduated from Pope Pius High School in Passaic in 1965. He was sent to the former Wadhams Hall College Seminary in Ogdensburg, NY by Bishop Navagh. Father Savitt was ordained by Bishop Lawrence Casey on May 26, 1973. After completing his priesthood studies at the former Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington. Prior to his ordination, he served as a transitional deacon at Assumption Parish in Morristown. His first assignment was St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic. He went on to serve at St. Stephen, St. Agnes and St. Therese Parishes in Paterson. And St. Virgil Parish in Morris Plains. In 1979 he returned to Paterson serving in St. Joseph’s Parish and a part time assistant to Father John Ahearn, then director of the Mission Office. He began an internship with Father Edward Reading, the founding executive director of NJ Prevention, Inc. He earned his certification as a National Certified Addiction Counselor II, Certified Prevention Specialist, a Certified Employee Assistance Professional and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the State of New Jersey.
In 1984, Bishop Rodimer approved the position for Father Savitt as the founding executive director of the nonprofit Passaic County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Prevention Inc. and the Prevention Network. He received many awards for his work in Alcohol and Drug prevention programs.

He had been a member of the Passaic County Professional Advisory Committee of the Passaic County Freeholders Board from 1985 – 1999 as well as a member of the Passaic County Municipal Alliance Steering Committee from 1989 – 1999. Father Savitt was a Fourth Degree Knight and was a former chaplain to the Regina Mundi Council Knights of Columbus in Clifton, he also served as a faithful friar to the Msgr. Stein Assembly. Father Savitt is currently the Chaplain to the Clifton Fire Department. A position he has held since 1988.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 10:30 AM at Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements by Marrocco Memorial Chapel 470 Colfax Avenue Clifton.