Dr. Joseph Samuel Darden, Jr.

     A native of Pleasantville, NJ, Dr. Darden held an A.B. degree in Biology from Lincoln University, an M.A. degree in Science Education and the Ed. D. degree in Health Education from New York University. A Fellow of the American School Health Association (ASHA), Dr. Darden served as a member of its Governing Council and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association for the Advancement of Health Education (AAHE of AAHPERD). Dr. Darden was also a member of the Editorial Board of ASHA’s Journal of School Health and of the Advisory Board of Health Education, the journal of AAHE.  Dr. Darden developed and taught courses in Sex Education/Human Sexuality at Kean College where he was a Professor of Health Education and Coordinator of Health Education. For a number of years, he was also an Adjunct Professor of Health Education at Wagner College (Staten Island, New York), and taught graduate courses in Adolescent Sexuality for both Rutgers University and Montclair State College. Periodically, he appeared as a panelist on radio and television programs about sex education/family life education. In 1981, he was a member of the Family Life Education Curriculum Guidelines Committee of the New Jersey State Department of Education. During the fall of 1984, he co-produced “Sex Education Awareness,” four half-hour programs for Cable TV in Eatontown, NJ.  His honors include the Distinguished Service Award (American School Health Association, 1971); the Honor Fellow Award and the Distinguished Leadership Award (New Jersey AHPERD, 1972, 1975); Honor Award (New Jersey Health Education Council, 1975); Honor Award and Outstanding College/University Teacher of the Year (Eastern District Association, AAHPERD, 1976, 1983); Honor Award (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 1985); and the Outstanding Achievements in Education Award (National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., North Jersey Unit, 1985). One of the first selected for “Who’s Who in Health Education in the Eastern District Association, AAHPERD,”. Darden was also listed in Who’s Who in the East and Who’s Who among Black Americans. He was a Certified Sex Educator, credentialed by the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. He continued to teach health and sex education as a tenured professor at Kean University until he retired.  In addition to excelling academically, Dr. Darden served in the army during World War II as a master sergeant. He was also a leader and a lifelong member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

   He is survived by his wife, Barbara Simpson Darden; his children, Michele Darden Burgess, Michelle Arumemi and Crystal Simpson Flowers; his sons-in law, Berkeley Burgess, Peter Arumemi, and Reginald Flowers; his grandchildren, Nicole Burgess, Ariele Burgess, Doni Arumemi, Joy Arumemi, and Jasmine Flowers; his great grandchildren, Briar Rose Burgess, Ryan Arumemi, and Alyssa Arumemi; his sister Virginia Darden Jackson and his brother; Edward Darden; his brothers-in –law, Joe Jackson and Curtis Brown; his sister-in-law Claudia Brown; his nieces Tanya Nelson, Pearl Epps and Renee Gettys and nephews John Darden, Kent Darden, Julian King, Frank Epps, Jaioliver Darden, and Praithe Darden.   He is predeceased by his brothers, John Darden and Oliver Darden and his sister Gloria Darden Gettys.

  In lieu of flowers, Tributes may be made to Lincoln University in Dr. Joseph S. Darden, Jr.’s name. Checks should be made payable to Lincoln University and may be mailed to:

Division of Institutional Advancement

Lincoln University 

1570 Baltimore Pike 

Lincoln University, PA 19352

Credit cards from Visa, and MasterCard, Discover, and American Express via Lincoln University’s website at https://giving.lincoln.edu/Donate-Now

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