OBITUARIES

Frederick M.

BRENNER

Frederick Marion Brenner, 88, of Westwood passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Nov. 23, 2022 at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood after a short battle with cancer. Born on Oct. 18, 1934 to Gordon Judson Brenner and Alice Lawson Brenner, Fred spent his childhood in Brooklyn and later Hollis Queens. Upon graduating from Manhattanʼs Stuyvesant High School in 1952, he enlisted in the Air Force.

He attended Yale Institute of Far-Eastern Languages, where he trained as a Chinese Interpreter, serving with Air Force Intelligence for the remainder of the Korean War. He then attended City College of New York (Bernard Baruch) and joined the family business, M & M Title Abstract Company, in Hackensack.

It was through his work there that he met the love of his life, Carol Anne Anton. They were married for 57 wonderful years, and were blessed with two daughters, Nancy Lynn (John Patrick Gordon) of Westwood and Elaine Susan (Edward John Chanda) of Granville, Ohio. He was the adoring “Papa” to Allison Brenner Gordon, Sean Patrick Gordon, Quincy Edward Chanda, and Ainsley Belle Chanda.

Fred and Carol resided in Westwood for 37 years, for many of which they were members of Zion Lutheran Church. In later years, Frederick worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Norwood. Upon retirement he moved to Canton, Conn. in 2007, and returned to Westwood in 2018.

Frederick dedicated much of his free time to several service and fraternal organizations. He became a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of Pioneer Lodge 70 (Hackensack) where he went on to become Master of the Lodge. He later joined and headed all of the Masonic bodies of the York Rite, eventually earning its highest award, The Knight York Cross of Honor.

He was also a Shriner of Salaam Temple in Livingston. He joined the Order of the Eastern Star, Jeptha Chapter #134, later in life with his wife, Carol. Most recently, he joined Temple Lodge #173 of Westwood, where he served as an officer.

He was a Republican county committeeman in Hackensack for many years. He was a member of the Courthouse Square Club, where he served as president, as well as a member of Hackensack Rotary, also serving as president. He was a member of the VFW in Carlstadt.

Frederick was an avid crossword puzzler, model airplane builder, model train enthusiast, and lover of fresh water trout fishing. He was at home in nature and loved all animals. He also enjoyed computer gaming, and using flight simulation.

His family and friends will always remember him for his quick wit, eloquence and way with words, deep love of his country, and adoration for his cherished family.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, their two daughters and sons-in-law, four grandchildren, and a step-brother, Burt Lawson Clement of Greenlawn, Long Island.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritanʼs Purse, or St. Judeʼs Childrenʼs Hospital.

Walter C.

GEPPNER

Walter C. Geppner, 92 of Park Ridge, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. Walter is survived by his son Joseph, daughter-in-law Donna (née Tierney), granddaughter Alexis, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends. He is predeceased by his loving wife of 70 years, Louise, son Robert, parents Fred and Lillian (Harper), and brother, Fred.

Walter was a proud member of the Park Ridge Fire Department. In 2008, Walter celebrated 50 years of dedication to the fire department and although he stopped running into active fires, he kept the Plektron on at all times. We knew he was always going to be late for dinner (especially at Christmastime).

In his twenties, Walter joined the National Guard. He was a proud member of NJ Carpenters Union 15 and his on-the-job stories remained a highlight at every dinner. As a member of St. Paulʼs Episcopal Church, he prepared the alter with Louise for over 60 years. Despite all he accomplished in life, finding the love of his life, Louise, was his biggest

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accomplishment.

The family will receive guests at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, on Monday, Nov. 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

A celebration of Walterʼs life and faith will be held at Becker Funeral Home in Westwood on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 11:30 a.m. with interment at Pascack Reformed Church Cemetery in Park Ridge to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions can be made in Walterʼs name to the Park Ridge Firemanʼs Association, PO Box 333, Park Ridge, NJ 07676 or Paypal at funddrive@parkridgefire.com.

Kenneth G. WOODS

Kenneth G. Woods, 57, of Westwood, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. Ken is survived by his dearest wife, Terri; his son Vinny; his father Robert; his brothers John and his wife Jackie, Rick and his wife Lori, Jimmy and Robbie; his sister in-law Cindi Cerrato and her husband Steve; his brother in-law Michael Cerrato and his wife Debbie as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is predeceased by his mother Diane and brother Michael.

Ken lived most of his life in Westwood. He graduated from Westwood Regional High School and Northeastern Vocational Technical School. He also attended Bergen County Technical School.

For more than 30 years Ken was a respected electrician, relied upon year after year by the community and beyond to maintain their homes. He was also the greatly valued buildings and grounds Supervisor for the Woodcliff Lake Public School District. Ken was an avid home enthusiast who could fix just about anything.

His great joy was maintaining and improving the home he shared with his beloved wife, Terri, son, Vinny, and cats Benji and Penny, whom he adored. He loved to vacation with his family and was happiest enjoying the beach, the lake, a water park or his many annual trips to Wildwood with his loved ones. Ken would do anything for Vinny, who was the light of his life — whether it was building him a ninja course in the yard or encouraging him to chase his academic and athletic dreams as a teenager. His presence will be sorely missed.

The family will receive guests at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, on Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. Thomas S. MALONE

Thomas S. Malone, 89, a Woodcliff Lake resident for 54 years, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. Thomas was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. to his late parents, Philip, and Agnes Malone, and his predeceased sister, Agnes. He attended St Johnʼs University, Queens, N.Y., and after his sophomore year decided to join the United States Marine Corps, where he served in the 3rd Marine Division during the Korean War, stationed in Inchon, Korea.

He remained involved throughout his life with the Marine Corps League, Gooney Bird Detachment and enjoyed spending time with other military veterans and their volunteer activity in local communities.

Upon his return home, he completed his college education and met the love of his life Barbara Mantovani Malone, and married on Sept. 20, 1958, at Our Lady of Guadalupe R. C. Church, Brooklyn, N.Y. They remained married for 51 years, until her death, in 2009.

He retired from American Can Company, Greenwich, Conn. as director of corporate labor relations and was owner and president of Management Recruiters, Inc., Pearl River, N.Y.

Surviving are his children, Thomas and his wife Wendy, Gregory and his wife Jill, Denise OʼBrien and her husband, Tom, and Barbara Bateman and her husband, Paul.

Cherished grandfather of nine grandchildren, Madeline, Sarah, Claire Malone, Luke and Jake Malone, Sean, Michael, and Mark OʼBrien, and Nicholas Bateman. Loving uncle of Mary Elizabeth Kesse.

Visitation 4–8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Robert Spearing Funeral Home, 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, rsfhi.com

Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 Our Lady Mother of the Church, Woodcliff Lake, followed by interment in Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes.

In lieu of flowers please donate in memory of Thomas to American Lung Association, lung.org/get-involved/ways-togive or Tunnel to Towers, https://t2t.org. Frick and Vincent Graziano, and grandchildren Katherine and Alexander Frick and Sophia and Daniel Graziano.

Mel was born in Brooklyn to first-generation Italian-Americans Calogero (Charlie) and Dionisia (Daisy), and was the older brother to sisters Roseann and Pam, both of whom passed away in 2021.

He earned a full scholarship to St. Johnʼs University where he graduated magna cum laude with a major in accounting, and was then hired at Arthur Andersen in Manhattan, where he became a tax partner specializing in U.S. taxation of international activities.

On retirement from Andersen in 1991, he formed MSM Consulting and spent more than a decade providing management consulting to law firms in New York City. In his early days at Andersen, he met a lovely and feisty secretary, Joan Finnerty, and they wed in 1968. Together, they raised their daughters in an idyllic home filled with warmth and laughter, where they provided love and support and everything needed to succeed in life.

After his father passed away, he was truly the patriarch of our family of women, always doing what he could to make sure we were taken care of. Mel was warm, funny, and charming, incredibly smart, and a meticulous planner in all aspects of life. He loved to sing, play golf and tennis, drink good wine and gin & tonics, eat Joanʼs incredible cooking, relax with a string of terriers including his beloved wire fox terrier Tina, and delight in watching his grandchildren grow and flourish. He was our rock, our rudder, and our guide, offering valuable advice on personal and money matters, home buying, and career moves. He will be tremendously missed.

The family will receive guests at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Rd., Westwood, on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass celebrating Melchiorʼs life and faith is at Our Lady Mother of The Church R.C. in Woodcliff Lake on Friday, Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. with entombment to follow at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus. Memorial contributions can be made in Melchiorʼs name to the Amyloidosis Foundation (https://amyloidosis.org).

Thomas

McPARTLAND

On Nov. 27, 2022, Thomas McPartland, of Park Ridge, formerly of Leonia, passed away one day shy of his 63rd birthday at home with his loving family, after courageously battling metastatic melanoma and other serious medical conditions that were a result of this cancer.

He is survived by his adoring wife of 19 years, Dawn (Thumu-

Melchior S.

MORRIONE

Melchior S. Morrione, 84, of Woodcliff Lake, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. Melchior is survived by his beloved wife, Joan, daughters Karyn Frick and Nicole Graziano and their