OBITUARIES

Kevin G. MAY

Westwood Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Kevin George May, 29, of Westwood suffered a cardiac incident after responding with the department on Sunday, Oct. 16 to a five-alarm house fire in Upper Saddle River. The department was called at approximately 6 p.m. and back in service Sunday at 8:18 p.m.

May awoke the next morning with chest pains and difficulty breathing. He was taken to a local hospital, where he received a stent. He was released under a doctorʼs care on Thursday Oct. 20.

On Monday, Oct. 24 at approximately 9:30 a.m., May was found at home, unresponsive. CPR was initiated, emergency medical services were called, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

May was born on March 1, 1993 to George Jr. and Alison May. He grew up as the loving oldest brother to Dean and James. Kevin was their protector, confidante, and best friend. He is cherished by his grandmother Linda Sherikjian.

He is predeceased by his grandfather, Joseph Sherikjian, and his grandparents George senior and Marie May.

Growing up in Westwood, he participated in youth baseball, football, lacrosse and roller hockey. He went on to play ice hockey, and graduated from River Dell High School in 2011.

Kevin was working for FedEx.

He is recalled as a light shining throughout the community through his participation and love for the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department. A passionate firefighter for 11 years, he served as a proud vice president and softball team coach. He loved being a Santa Claus actor on their annual Santa runs and loved the holiday parades. The Westwood Volunteer Fire Department was his second family.

May was an avid fan of the Mets, Giants, Rangers, and NASCAR. It was routine for him to watch these sporting events in his favorite seat at the firehouse with his fire department family.

Kevin Mayʼs personality was larger than life. His love for his family, friends, and community were extraordinary. He will be greatly missed and leaves a great hole in his family and every life he has touched.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Andrewʼs Roman Catholic Church, 120 Washington Ave., Westwood on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 3 to 9 p.m.

The funeral Mass celebrating Kevin Mayʼs life and faith will be held on Friday, Oct. 28 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrewʼs in Westwood.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Kevinʼs name to the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at Becker-FuneralHome.com for the May family.

The department posted, “Kevin has left a hole that will be extremely hard to fill. Kevin loved and cared for everyone around him.”

The officers and members of the North Jersey Volunteer Firemenʼs Association extended their condolences “to the chiefs, officers and members of the WFD and to the May family. May he rest easy!”

The Westwood Police Department posted to express membersʼ deepest condolences to the May family and the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department.

“Firefighter May embodied the very best of the Westwood community. He was a dedicated public servant who loved Westwood and he surely was loved in return. We are thankful for his dedication, commitment and his service. May he rest in peace,” the WPD said.

Line-of-duty death (LODD) services for Kevin May include a wake, Thursday, Oct. 27 from 3 to 9 p.m. with department services at 7:45 at Saint Andrewʼs Church, 120 Washington Ave., Westwood. All departments wishing to attend, please arrive at 7:30. Apparatus parking will be available in the parking lot behind the church.

Robert ‘Bob’

McSPIRIT

Robert “Bob” Thomas McSpirit, 83, of Layton, passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, surrounded by his loving family, at Newton Medical Center. Bob was born in Hackensack on Sept. 1, 1939 to the late Edward James and Dorothea “Dolly” (Mack) McSpirit. Bob grew up in the Glendale section of Hillsdale which is now preserved as McSpirit Memorial Park. A graduate of Pascack Valley High School in 1957, he was an accomplished athlete in football, basketball, and track, and was one of the decision makers of the PVH Indian mascot and signature green and white school colors.

Bob attended the University of Tulsa, where he was president of Sigma Nu fraternity. He proudly served in the U.S. Army, overseas, 1962–1963.

After serving his country, Bob began his 38-year-long career with American Airlines, climbing the corporate ladder in various managerial positions. It was there where he met the love of his life, Barbara Herfurth. They married in 1966 and raised their family in the Continental Woods section of Emerson. Determined to complete his college education, Bob received his bachelorʼs degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1969.

After retirement, Bob and Barbara moved to Plymouth Lake in Stillwater in 2001 and last settled to their beautiful hillside farm

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in Sandyston in 2018. Bob always enjoyed being outdoors. Fishing, boating, camping and birding were some of his favorite hobbies. He was fond of puzzles, reading books, and rooting for the New York Giants and Yankees.

Most importantly, Bob loved spending time with his family and cherished going on his annual family vacation to Lake George.

Bob was fun-loving and had a great sense of humor. He sang countless old time fun songs to his children and grandkids which are memories that will be cherished by them forever. He was a lung cancer survivor and a has always given the stern advice to all: Do not smoke.

Beloved husband to Barbara McSpirit for 56 years, Robert is survived by his children Kelly McSpirit (Christopher Hanlon), Laura McSpirit and Christine McSpirit; his grandchildren Summer McSpirit, Shane McSpirit, Brayden Grier, Lillian Hanlon, George Hanlon and Hudson Grier and his sister-in-law Margie McSpirit. Along with his parents, Robert is predeceased by his siblings Eddie McSpirit and Dottie Garrabrant, and brother-inlaw Bert Garrabrant.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 210 US206, Sandyston, N.J. Interment will take place privately at Branchville Cemetery at a later date. The family kindly requests that attendees to the funeral partake in the wearing of the green.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, PO Box 232, Branchville, NJ. Condolences can be offered to the family at woodfuneralhome.net.

Fred

DEMMERLE

Fred Demmerle of River Vale passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side. He was born in St. Albans Queens, N.Y. to Louis and Lucy Demmerle. Loving father to Gail Reardon and her husband David. Adored grandfather to Tyler and his wife Harli. His extended family includes Megan Demmerle-Geier, James Geier, and Derek Geier. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Loretta, and his adored son, Kurt Demmerle.

We are grateful to his caregivers Nana and Paulette and the Thau family for all their love and support.

Fred, a proud graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served with pride, 1944–1946. He then worked at Bendix for over 40 years.

Fred and Loretta resided in Paramus for 31 years before moving to River Vale in 1986. He was a parishioner of St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Old Tappan.

An avid hunter and trap shooter, he loved taking his bird dogs out. Fred was also a history buff and loved reading about United States history, especially the Civil War, and Native American history. He loved learning about all types of birds and animals and delighted in taking Tyler to many zoos and parks. Upon their retirement, Fred and Loretta took many trips throughout the United States with the highlight being a cruise to Alaska. They also enjoyed trips to various national parks and other places where they could enjoy nature.

In lieu of flowers, donations to River Vale Ambulance Corps 333 Rivervale Road River Vale, NJ 07675 or Sammyʼs Hope, P.O. Box 7281 North Brunswick, NJ 08902 sammyshope.org, from where his sweet and gentle granddog, Otis, was adopted.

Ruth F. DALY

Ruth F. Daly passed away on Oct. 19, 2022 in Ridgewood. Born on a farm in Secaucus in 1925, Ruth had resided in Bergenfield, New Milford, Woodcliff Lake, and Westwood. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 60 years, Robert L. Daly.

She leaves behind children Deborah Priestman (John), Glenn Daly, Diane Daly, Kathy Moore (Steve), and Laura Wanamaker (Jeffrey); 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was the life of the party and she will be missed by all.

Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Robert Spearing Funeral Home Inc., 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, rsfhi.com. Funeral Mass 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Our Lady Mother of the Church, Woodcliff Lake. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude Childrenʼs Research Hospital, stjude.org.

Angela DeTORO

Angela DeToro, 88, a longtime resident of Westwood, has passed away.

Born to Rocco Mastroly and Christina DePaula of Jersey City, Angie raised four children and was known for commanding the deli counter at the local ShopRite as well as working at various positions at Bergen Catholic High School. She was an expert Italian cook, loved gardening, and was an avid and opinionated fan of the New York Yankees.

She is survived by her children Anthony, Gerard, and Susan.

The funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, at noon at St Andrewʼs Church, Westwood. Donations may be directed to the Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

FROM PAGE 4

This farmer, in his boyhood, lived in a time and a family that talked much of supernatural events, and while his common sense told him not to believe these things, they came to his mind now and he felt nervous.

As he set out again, from the back of the wagon came a groan that scared him out of his wits. He continued on and reached the infamous westerly hill on Glen Road. Just as the top was near, a cold, clammy hand brushed the farmerʼs face, and filmy garments fluttered before him.

He closed his eyes to shut out the horrid sight, and something sharp pressed against his throat. He felt cold blood flow down onto his chest and believed his end had come. He gave a hysterical shriek that echoed back from the adjacent hills. The wagon jolted over the stony road as the horse bolted down the path towards home. The farmerʼs hat flew off, and the little wooden box rattled in the back of the wagon.

As they neared home, the horse slowed and all came safely into the yard. As the farmer staggered out of the wagon, his wife, seeing his condition, helped him into the house and to bed. Someone else drove the wagon and its contents to the neighborʼs house.

The next afternoon, the farmer considered the previous nightʼs ghostly encounter in the light of a bright summer day. His common sense told him that there must be a different explanation for all that had happened.

He returned to investigate. The first discovery came in the spot where he had heard the groan. In the mud: the crushed body of a frog in the track of his wagon wheel. The sound had not been a groan but rather, the poor animalʼs final croak.

Near the top of the second hill the tracks showed where his wagon had drifted to one side of the road. A branch had a bunch of leaves that in brushing against his face were mistaken for wet, clammy hands.

The limb scraped across his throat, shaking off some dampness that felt like cold blood as it trickled onto him.The much-relieved man retrieved his lost hat from the road.

By the start of the 19th century, ghostly tales of the Glen were seen as the silly superstitions of an older generation. Instead, the land became a popular recreation site—and the main element haunting it was careless visitors.

The Glen exists today thanks to successive owners who refused to let the modern world mar a natural wonder. At the turn of the 20th century, owner James Leach allowed the public to make use of the spot—until increasingly large parties of picnickers, including busloads of people from outside town, began visiting regularly and causing damage. When the Erie Railroad approached Leach with a proposition to buy the property and create a resort, he refused the railroadʼs money in favor of protecting the land.

After Mr. Leachʼs death,History: Unite

FROM PAGE 4

Countyʼs past is billed as essential for any resident or visitor.

Books will be available for sale; one lucky participant will receive a free copy. Light refreshments will be served.

Registration is requred. Visit the library for more information. 49 Park Ave., Westwood and westwoodpubliclibrary.org.

—Staff report

Kaplan: Stress

FROM PAGE 22

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Give your business the attention it deserves!

Atkins Glen as it looks today.

Daniel H. Atkins of Montvale bought the property in 1921 and the public was once again admitted—that is, until Mr. Atkins was forced to send workers on Mondays to clean up all the trash left behind by the weekend crowd. The public was barred once again.

In the 1950s the estate gifted the land to the Borough of Park Ridge for use as a public park. — Kristin Beuscher is president of the Pascack Historical Society.

PARK RIDGE

Military vets present comedy Nov. 5

The Park Ridge Elks are hosting a Veterans Comedy Night to support Gold Star families, Department of Homeland Security canine veterans, and catastrophically injured veterans.

The event, with a 50-50 raffle, is Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Elks Lodge at 13 Sulak Lane. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Pasta dinner is at 6:30, comedy show from 7:30 to 9:30.

Tickets are $50 per person, (the show contains adult themes and language) and reservations must be purchased in advance by check payable to Tails of Hope Foundation, Inc. and mailed to: Tails of Hope Foundation, PO Box 103, Litchfield CT 06759, or at the Park Ridge Elks Lodge by Friday, Oct. 28.

Seven military veteran comedians will be featured:headliner Jo Jo Collins, U.S. Air Force; Ron G., USMC; Dan Collins, U.S. Army/Navy; Rated G, USMC; Dave Hoj, U.S. Army; Linette Pallidino, U.S. Army; and Ozz Born, U.S. Army.