School District Mourns Former Parsippany Principal

Bernard "Bernie" Packin, 86, a former school district principal who oversaw the design and construction of Parsippany Hills High School, died Sept. 19 at the age of 86. No cause was reported.

A Newark native, Packin grew up in Irvington and lived in Livingston before moving to California.

After serving the U.S. Army in World War II, he attended Rutgers University, earning a master's degree in education.

For the next 35 years, he worked in his chosen field, first at Wayne High School, and then as vice principal at then-Central Junior High in Parsippany and principal of Parsippany and Parsippany Hills high schools.

Current Board of Education President Frank Calabria, who led a moment of silence for Packin at the Sept. 27 BOE meeting, said he was an innovator.

"If there is a positive program in this district, you can bet Bernie Packin was behind it," he said.

One of his premier achievements, according to Calabria, was as a consultant for the 1969 construction of Parsippany Hills High. He ended up serving the school as principal until his retirement in 1988.

Packin is survived by his wife of 63 years, Claire Timinsky Packin; sons Marc of Longmeadow, Mass., and Robert of San Clemente, Calif.; daughter Sheri of San Diego, Calif.; and six grandchildren.

Interment was at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Iselin.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Box 5018, Hagerstown, Md. 21741-5018.