Highland Park Councilwoman Susan Welkovits has died.

The councilwoman had acquired COVID-19, according to family friends, but that was not the cause of her death, they say.  She contracted the virus while in the hospital for another illness, but was COVID-19-asymptomatic.

The original illness – undisclosed as of this time – caused her death, acording to two family friends. An earlier version of this story said she perished from COVID-19, which they insist was not the case. InsiderNJ regrets the error.

Here is her story on the Highland Park Planet.

Appointed to the Borough Council in January 2012, Ms. Welkovits chaired the Health and Human Services Committee for three years. Since January 2015, she served as Council President and Chairs Public Works and Public Utilities Committee, working with Department of Public Works and Code Enforcement. She also served on Administration, Economic Development and Planning, and Public Safety Committees and is Council Liaison to Environmental Commission, Sustainable Highland Park, Shade Tree Advisory Council, Native Plant Reserve, Complete Streets Advisory Council, and our district Schools.

According to the Highland Park website, her professional background was as a Client Relationship Manager and Project Manager in Financial Services for more than 20 years. Her clients have included small businesses much like those that make up our vital downtown business district.

Ms. Wekovits’ parents emigrated from Hungary in 1956, and moved to Highland Park when she was a child. She was a graduate of Highland Park High School. About 10 years ago, she returned to Highland Park from New York to raise a family and is the mother of twins attending Irving Primary School.