Alize Zuber Dunston, age 90, departed this life on October 15, 2024. She spent her early years in Mississippi, where her physician father, Dr. Thomas L. Zuber, M.D and her mother, Allene "Alice" Lathan provided her with a comfortable and enriching life, and taught her to live by the Bible Ten Commandments, and believed that to those who have been given talents--much is expected.
Having earned a B.A. from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA., post-graduate work at Howard University, Washington, DC,; Harvard University, Boston, M.A and a Masters Degree from Seton Hall Univ in South Orange, NJ., she spent her professional career serving as teacher and principal in Newark, NJ Public Schools.
While attending Howard University she met and married her loving husband, the late Dr. Joseph N. Dunston, Jr., M.D. and they parented two children Dr. Gina Dunston-Boone, MD, and Joseph N. Dunston, III.
As Principal of Miller Street School, she established a strong instructional program and propelled Miller Street School's rise from the lowest ranking elementary school when she assumed leadership to the FIFTH ranking Newark elementary school on the 1995 State Mandated Early Warning TEST (EWT) administered to eight graders. She consistently engaged parents, public, and private partnerships as stakeholders to assist in student achievement and recognition. For 10 years she served on the Board of Education in her hometown of Orange, NJ, and eight of those years as President or Vice President.
Upon retirement, she served as: (1) Teacher-Recruiter for the Newark Public Schools, (2) Mentor for NJ new Principals-under the NJ Leaders to Leaders Program, and (3) Team Member with the NJ CAPA Program, which provided collaborative assessment, planning, and assistance to schools in need of improvement.
Throughout her career she was honored with many civic and community awards, was a former member of Union Baptist Church, Orange, NJ and St. Paul Baptist Church, Montclair, NJ.
With great joy she served as coordinator and founder of the 3-R's BOOK CLUB since 1999, (RETIRED REJUVENATED READERS).
Predeceased by her loving husband, she leaves to celebrate her life her beloved children: Gina A. Dunston-Boone, M.D. (Peter Boone, M.D.); Joseph Nelson Dunston, III (Donna); six grand children--Brian, Andrew-M.D., Christopher Boone; and Danielle, Erin, Jillian Dunston; one sister-in-law, Frances Dunston, M.D.; and a hose of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.