Diver: OT’s Ariya Suwan a U.S. junior champion

FROM PAGE 1 five finishes across multiple categories in the USA Diving Junior National Championships.

Ariyaʼs mom, Kokoe TanakaSuwan, tells us “She was the youngest female diver to represent AAUʼs diving Team USA (at age 9), at international competitions in Sweden last fall. Based on her results this season, she will be invited to compete in international competitions this fall.”

Ariya told Pascack Press on Aug. 15, “I really liked gymnastics, but it was too hard on my body. I loved swimming too, and my grandma suggested diving instead. I love jumping on the springboard and feeling like Iʼm flying.”

Ariya said she learned everything at Pike Dive Academy (pikediveacademy.com) in the Township of Washington, and trains regularly at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark and at Montclair State University.

Over the past two years she went from beginner to rising star, and is continuing to learn more difficult dives for each competition.

Since starting out in competitive diving in 2020,amid the pandemic, Old Tappan resident Ariya Suwan has emerged as one of the top junior divers in the country,competing alongside Team USA in Sweden,and traveling to AAU competitions all over the United States.And she has fun,too. Pike Dive Academy and courtesy photos

Kokoe Tanaka-Suwan said “Two years ago we found Pike Dive Academy [via Google] and Ariya fell in love with it right away. Her coach, Dora Fyfe, is the head coach and owner of the academy, and she really took to it. She trains six days a week with what they call the elite team at Pike Dive Academy.”

Tanaka-Suwan explained that Ariya tried a number of sports growing up, but none really called to her the way that diving has. During the pandemic Ariya was looking to try something new, and they found it at Pike Dive Academy, which offers year-round recreational and competitive team programs, and a supportive community.

“Diving is kind of like a combination of gymnastics and swimming,” she said, “They do a lot of trampoline training, dry land training, and of course pool training.”

According to Ariya, learning to dive is far from easy, and takes many hours of training.

“I do this dive that is a back one-and-a-half, like one-semi flip and then turning back the other way into a dive,” Ariya says. “I had a lot of trouble with it a year ago and stopped doing it for a while. But this year I did it in a competition and it was really good,” she said.

Ariya competes in the under-11 age category at all of her dive meets, as well as the national championships, but as she gets older sheʼll certainly feel the increased pressure — and challenge — of competition.

“I have to get more new dives because Iʼm going into a higher age category,” Ariya said. “Instead of six dives I have to do eight dives, so thatʼs going to be a lot harder.”

She said, “I met a lot of people when I was in Sweden, because they picked a group of us to come. All the girls in my age category were very nice. I met people from Texas, California, and Chicago, so it was a lot of fun.”

Her mom adds, “The Sweden trip opened Ariyaʼs eyes to the world of diving. Her coach Dora has been integral in creating a positive pathway for her moving forward. Sheʼs very nurturing but sets high goals. She caters to Ariyaʼs needs and leads her in a way that she can really blossom.”

Dora Fyfe, Ariyaʼs primary coach, and owner of Pike Dive Academy, has helped train competitive divers for more than 30 years.

In 2019 she was hired as a diving coach at NJIT, and in her first season was CCSA 2020 Menʼs Diving Coach of the Year. Fyfe was head referee at the 2022 Ivy League Diving Championships, hosted at Harvard University. She also was Ecuadorian National Team dive coach and judge for the 2020 South American Games.

When asked about working with Fyfe, Ariya told Pascack Press , “My coach has very interesting strategies sometimes, but they always work. She uses letters to explain our body shape during dives: like, you have to jump up and tuck into a C and then kick out.”

As for next steps, training several times a week and entering middle school will certainly keep Ariya busy — but she says sheʼs determined to learn new dives and continue honing her skills.

Minnie R. PLESCIA

Minnie R. Plescia (née Longo), 89, longtime resident of River Vale, born Jan. 24, 1934, passed away on Aug. 13, 2023. She was predeceased by her parents, Pasquale Longo and Antoinette Boccadora, and loving husband, Anthony V. Plescia.

Minnie is survived by her sons Anthony J. Plescia and Glenn P. Plescia and his wife Milissa HowellPlescia; her sisters Madeline Siciliano and her husband, Nick, and Linda Sgallata and her husband, Don, as well as her nieces Karen Costantino and her husband, Ted, and children Amanda and Brent, and Susan Westervelt.

Before retiring, Minnie was an executive administrative assistant for over 40 years. She also enjoyed watching the New York Yankees.

Services will be private. Share fond memories and condolences at Becker-FuneralHome.com.

Ewing A. HAWKINS

Ewing A. Hawkins, 70, of Montvale passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023 with his loving wife at his side. Beloved husband of Judith (née Brattlof) for 40 years. Devoted father of Tanya Tallarico and her husband, John; Justin Hawkins and his wife, Caitlin; Ashley Hawkins and her partner, Arthur Simpson; and Ryan Hawkins and his wife, Vanessa.

Cherished grandfather of 13: Nicholas, Skylar, Brianna, Shayna, Alexander, Aniya, Amani, Ameire, Arianna, Alanna, Aydin, Ajay and Aʼlacee. Loving brother of six older sisters. He is also survived by many loving relatives and friends.

Ewing had a great sense of humor, which kept everyone laughing — except, of course, the butt of most of his jokes, his wife, Judy. He loved saving all his change so he could go to all the surrounding casinos. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Visitation 2–6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13 at Robert Spearing Funeral Home Inc., 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, rsfhi.com, followed by a private cremation. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Ewing may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering, mskcc.org.

Elaine ADLER

Elaine Adler, co-founder and driving force behind the Adler Aphasia Center in Maywood, passed away on Aug. 10, 2023, at her home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. She was 95 years young.

Elaine was a highly respected and tireless activist and philanthropist throughout New Jersey and beyond. In 2003 she with with her husband, Mike, launched the Maywood Center, a low-cost, long term therapeutic care option for stroke and brain injury survivors who have aphasia. No appropriate long-term therapeutic option could be found for Mike when he suffered a stroke and aphasia in 1993.

The Center has won numerous awards and has become a world leader in long-term aphasia rehabilitation and research, with two other full-service centers in West Orange and Toms River, seven Aphasia Communication Groups located throughout New Jersey, and the Adler Aphasia Center at Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem.

Elaine and Mike owned Myron Manufacturing in Maywood, which at its peak employed 14,000 employees in more than 10 countries, selling personalized business gifts and advertising specialties. The business started in Manhattan, where they first lived, but by the mid-1950s the company moved to Teaneck, then to Maywood, where they found the space to grow.

Elaine and Mike put roots down in Paramus and Franklin Lakes and had four children — William, Richard, Donald James, and Marie — and 11 grandchildren and a recent great-grandchild.

Elaine was a powerhouse of energy and creative ideas, constantly educating people about aphasia and soliciting support for the Centerʼs programs and growth. Her mantra was “Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves.”

A member of the New Jersey State Aphasia Task Force and numerous advocacy groups, she was a passionate and outspoken voice, often appearing in the media and always ready to speak articulately on behalf of people with aphasia. She invited prominent people to support the cause and applied her intelligence, charisma, and influence to help those in need.

In 2017, just two years after Mikeʼs passing, former Gov. Chris Christie signed into law the Mike Adler Aphasia Task Force, making New Jersey the first state in the country to enact legislation to increase the provision of support services to people with aphasia.

Several years ago, Elaine was asked what the best part was of starting the Adler Aphasia Center.

“Oh, I just kvell when I visit the center. Sometimes I think I get more out of it than the people we serve!

To see what people with a communication disorder can accomplish is truly inspiring. There was a young woman with aphasia who came to us, who couldnʼt speak at all and cried all the time. All she wanted to do was to relearn how to read books to her small child. And she did it! Another young man with aphasia was a city councilman in a local town and wanted to run again and be able to make his acceptance speech. He practiced that speech every day. Well, he won the seat and made the speech! This center has made our lives so much fuller, and weʼve met wonderful people. Anyone who visits here always leaves with a happy heart.”

Elaine was a proactive force to be reckoned with in both state and national advocacy for aphasia rehabilitation. Along with Mike, she was the driving force behind the creation of Aphasia Access, an international consortium of aphasia professionals who are leading the way to provide communication access for those affected by aphasia.

Elaine served on numerous boards, including Ramapo College of New Jersey, where she served on the Board of Governors, Jewish Home and Rehabilitation Center in Rockleigh, Arnold Gold Foundation for Humanism in Medicine, and Bergen Countyʼs Childrenʼs Aid and Family Services.

Elaine was a founding board member of Gildaʼs Club of northern New Jersey, and the Center for Interreligious Understanding.

In 2010, She and Mike donated $2 million to build the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence building at Ramapo College, providing a permanent home for their nursing school.

Elaine Adler took a life tragedy — the severe disability of her husband — and turned it into an opportunity to help others on a global basis. Elaine chose to devote years of her life to provide recourse and support for the more than 2 million stroke and brain injury survivors with aphasia and their loved ones –and has provided them with new communication skills and self-confidence that has enabled them to live productive, independent and more fulfilling lives.

Donations may be made to adleraphasiacenter.org/tribute-toelaine-adler.

Earle Edward BRITTEN

Earle Edward Britten, 80, of Montvale passed away on Thursday Aug. 10, 2023. He was the beloved husband, of 52 years, of Deborah Eleanor (Rennie) Britten.

Born July 9, 1943 in Jersey City, he was the son of the late Earle and Angela (Kivior) Britten.

Earle worked for Public Service Electric & Gas for more than 40 years. In his free time, he loved being outdoors, passing time fishing and skiing, and tinkering in the garage. He was at his happiest on Long Beach Island, spending time on the beach with his family and friends.

In addition to his wife, Deborah, of Montvale, formerly of Secaucus, he is survived by his sons, Douglas Britten and his wife, Rebecca, of Cumming, Ga., Tyler Britten and his fiancée, Kathleen Ketcha, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Timothy Britten and his wife, Kathleen, of Westfield; six grandchildren: Kelsey, Emma, Cooper, Lucas, Parker, and Brooks; and sister, Bernice Cassano of Jersey City. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Joseph Cassano. No funeral is planned. The family will notify friends and family when a memorial service is scheduled. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Earleʼs name may be made to the Alzheimerʼs Association (alz.org) or Surfrider Foundation (https://surfrider.org).

John L. KIRK

John L. Kirk, 71, of Ramsey, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023 after a long, courageous battle with early onset dementia/Alzheimerʼs disease.

John was the most caring and kind husband to his devoted wife, Karen (née Winkler), and was the best dad ever to daughters, Kelly Kirk and husband Darin, Kerry Reekie and husband, Michael, and Tracey Widowski and husband, Steve; he was the adored PopPop of Olivia, John, James, Ryan, Nathanael, Kaitlyn, and Sean.

He is also survived by his beloved mother, Eleanor; brothers Thomas Kirk and wife, Brenda, and Patrick Kirk and wife, Rita; sisters Colleen Kirk-Hehir and husband, Cyril, and Peggy McNamara and husband, Neil; sisters-in-law Katie Kirk and Pat Graham and husband, Doug; and brother-in-law Rick Winkler and wife, Denise; and his cherished nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his father Thomas Kirk, brother Kevin Kirk, and sister-in-law Doreen Thompson. He was born in the Bronx the second oldest of six. His family moved to Hillsdale, where much of his youth was spent as the Commissioner of Hillsdale Park — where it was “all fun and games until the cops show up.”

An expert trout fisherman and fishing buddy to all, he spent his weekend mornings in “Godʼs church” — fishing from one of his many rowboats on Sterling Lake or Rondout Reservoir. Heʼd have four lines out of the second his boat hit the water and could catch two fish (“doubles!”) while rowing all the time. Ever the outdoorsman, if the sun became scorching or wind forced him off the water, he would spend the rest of the day shooting, riding ATVs, and lighting fireworks with the family and friends he loved so much.

Also an animal-lover, he could train any animal, even wild animalslike the fox outside the upstate house that would come out of the woods when he whistled and the turtles in his pond that would surface when he clapped. He could spot a mouse crossing the road a mile away and could move fast as lightning to catch in his bare hands an unsuspecting snake, deer, duck or turkey (even bringing one home in his truck). He had a pet mallard duck and raccoon.

John had such deep love for his family and friends and would always look to protect the underdog. He had great compassion and a calming presence to anyone who maybe in despair. John was always the life of the party, creator of fun times and passionate about his country and the freedoms it offered. He was always grateful for those who sacrificed to keep those freedoms alive.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, 69 Valley St., Hillsdale on Wednesday, Aug. 16 from 9 to 9:45 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at 10. Interment at Westwood Cemetery, Westwood. He will be missed forever by all those lucky enough to have known him. Godspeed and fish on

WESTWOOD CEMETERY CO.

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