Burton L. Geltzeiler

Burton L. Geltzeiler, 89, of West Orange, died August 1, 2017. Born in Newark, he grew up in Newark and Hillside before moving to West Orange. 

Mr. Geltzeiler was the president and CEO of Auto Body and Service in Newark and ABS Appraisal Service in West Orange. He also was a founding member of Auto Body Distributing Co. in Irvington and served as president for many years. 

He graduated Weequahic High School in 1945 then attended Rutgers University in Newark where he played basketball. He was third in the nation in scoring in 1950 and was the first player in Rutgers history to score more than 1000 points in a career. 

He was drafted by the Tri-City (now Atlanta) Hawks in 1950 by Hall of Famer Red Auerbach. Mr. Geltzeiler is a member of the Rutgers Newark Athletic Hall of Fame, the Newark Athletic Hall of Fame, and the JCC MetroWest Sports Hall of Fame. 

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He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in Fort Eustis, Va. 

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara Geltzeiler (nee Levy); three sons, Bruce (Susan) of Monroe Township, Barry (Sayre) of West Orange, and Brian (Jamie) of Livingston; and six grandchildren.

Services were held Aug. 3 with arrangements by Bernheim Apter Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, Livingston.