Mary Jean Pizza, age 56, passed away at her home in Plainfield on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Born in Orange, NJ, Mary Jean had grown up in West Orange and had resided in Westfield before moving to Plainfield four years ago.

Mary Jean had received her bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and later went on to earn her law degree from Rutgers Law School. She most recently had been consulting for Lite, DePalma, Greenberg, & Afanador in Newark.

Mary Jean had a passion for music and enjoyed going to concerts big and small with her friends and husband. She also loved going to watch plays and musicals on Broadway, especially her favorite, Hamilton. She was a strong advocate for people and animals that were less fortunate, and devoted many hours and monies to those in need. Most of all Mary Jean loved rescuing dogs. She was a volunteer for All-Star Pet Rescue in Linden, NJ.

She is predeceased by her mother, Natalie Pizza.

Surviving are her loving husband of ten years, Robert J. Hartman, her adoring father, Patrick Pizza, a brother, John Pizza, a sister, Cheryl Oss, and her dogs, Guinness, Klondike, and Bugzy.

There will be a celebration of Mary Jean’s life on Friday, April 22, at the Scotch Plains Italian American Club from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A memorial scholarship has been established in Mary Jean's name to annually award a scholarship in perpetuity to young deserving college students. For more information or to donate to the scholarship please visit:

www.apd.org/foundation/scholarship/scholarships/mary-jean-pizza