JANUARY 24, 2022 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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Harold J. PICKENS
Harold Joseph Pickens, 90, passed away Thursday evening, Jan. 13, 2022 at Harrogate Senior Living in Lakewood. Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, he was a longtime resident of the Township of Washington before moving to Lakewood in 1997. He served proudly in the United States Navy during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1955. Mr. Pickens was a graduate of Thomas Edison State College. He was an aviation service manager with Atlantic Aviation in Teterboro for 30 years. He worked as a consultant as the owner of Press-Aire Consulting before his retirement. Mr. Pickens was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lucille (née Saltamach) in 2010; and five siblings. Survivors include his loving children, Jeffrey R. Pickens of Turnersville, Father David Pickens, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Church, Parsippany, and Debra J. DeAlessandro of Manahawkin; and six grandchildren. Interment was held privately at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Tenafly. A public memorial funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church in Parsippany in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family would be most grateful for memorial gifts to Parents of Autistic Children (www.poac.net).
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Morris J. BERNSTEIN
OBITUARIES
Morris Jerome (Jerry) Bernstein, 98, of Woodcliff Lake and Sarasota, Fla., passed away, peacefully surrounded by his family, on Jan. 14, 2022. Jerry was born in Brooklyn to Sam and Anna Bernstein. His grandfather Simon was a pillar of the Jewish community. Jerry graduated from New Utrecht High School in 1941 and entered City College after graduation. He never finished college as the war started and he enlisted in the United States Navy in early 1943. He married his one and only sweetheart, Edith Prager, in 1944. They had been going steady since they first met, when she was 14, in 1939. After being released from the Navy he started a costume jewelry manufacturing company with his brother Marvin. He left after two years to take over his fatherʼs poultry business after his father passed away, in 1947, at 52. He worked with his mother who had always been active in the business. This was the beginning of a career in the wholesale meat business that is still in existence after 61 years. Jerry retired in 1992 after over 40 years as the president of Porky Products. His biggest passion in life was his family and he was devoted to every one of them. He loved all sports and played golf and tennis all his life and particularly enjoyed playing both with his family. Edith worked with him and played with him their entire life and was his constant companion. Jerry always had a positive outlook on life, and a great sense of humor. He enjoyed life and tried to brighten up the life of everyone he came in contact with. He will be dearly missed and
remembered by everyone he ever met. Survived by his beloved Edith, to whom he was married for 78 storybook years. Loving father to Cookie and Shelley; proud grandfather to Michele (Rick), Sandy (Karim) David, Alyson, and Jodi (Dave); and adoring papa to 15 great-grandchildren, Sarah, Alexandra, Zackari, Samantha, Kayla, Krista, Maya, Jacob, Ruby, Dylan, Charli, Austin, Jayden Jack, and Jagger. Donations in memory of Jerry Bernstein can be made to the Multiple Myeloma Foundation at myeloma.org.
Abbe KESLINGER
Abbe Reicher Keslinger, 63, of Mahwah, and previously of Westwood and Park Ridge, passed away on Jan. 12, 2022. She was born in the Bronx, N.Y. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister, she is survived by her devoted husband, David; her children: Joshua, 21, Erica, 24, and Ericaʼs partner, Kenny Sierra; her grandson, Kenji; and her sister, Susan Winton, as well as many friends and family, who loved her. She was a graduate of Park Ridge High School and worked for years at a variety of clerical jobs. In 1996 she left work to devote her life to raising her children. She is buried at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus. Donations can be made to the Scleroderma Foundation.
Agnes R. HENGEMUHLE
Agnes Rita Hengemuhle, 87, of Westwood and the Township of Washington, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.
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Beloved wife of the late Joseph Francis. Devoted mother of Joseph (Sheila), Mark (Candie), Dan, Pat Spirko (Ed), Beth (Pat), John (Erica) and Jeanne (Deb). Cherished grandmother of Rebecca (Scott), Erin (Mike), Leah (Christian), Siobhan, Matthew (Courtney), Valerie, Andrew, Allison, Phillip, Justin (Hannah), Julie (Jeremy), Frank (Erica), Daniel, Ian and Sean. Loving great-grandmother of Charlie, Liam, Mason, Noah, Colton, Siena, Logan, Landon, Danica, Tyler, Nathan, Addilyne, Jack and Ellie. Agnes retired approximately 10 years ago from her longtime job as a human resources supervisor for Macyʼs in Paramus. Memorial Mass was held at St. Andrew R.C. Church, Westwood. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Andrewʼs Food Pantry, 120 Washington Ave., Westwood, NJ 07675.
Ernest ‘Rudy’ SWANSON
Ernest “Rudy” Swanson, 94, a much-admired leader in the United States Marine Corps, in law enforcement, and in his community, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022 at Beebe Health Care in Lewes, Del., after a brief illness. He lived in Lewes for more than 25 years, most of it on Gower Court in Pilottown Village with his wife, Pat, who predeceased him. Rudy was well known in the community, particularly for proudly displaying the Marine Corps and U.S. flags daily at his home. He was born in New York City and attended public schools, first serving others by joining the local volunteer fire department when the Second World War began to strain local emergency services. After graduating from high school at age 17, he joined the Marine Corps and was deployed to the South Pacific. He eventually participated in the occupation of Japan and then was asked to serve in China, where the Japanese troops were being repatriated to Japan and the nationalist and communist forces were also fighting for control of China. In China he also later was assigned to the United Nations Peace Committee to provide security for a cease-fire in what is now Indonesia. After a successful cease fire was arranged, Rudy was assigned to teach at the Marine Corps School in Quantico, Va. During that time he marched in the inaugural parade for President Harry S. Truman. As he returned to civilian life, he began to attend college, but was recalled to active duty and served in the Korean War. As a result of his military experience, he was a life member of the 1st Marine Division Associ-
ation, the 2nd Marine Division Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Marine Corps League and the Military Officers Association. In Delaware, he also served as president of the Southern Delaware Military Officers Association and Commandant of the Diamond State Detachment of the Marine Corps League. His career in law enforcement began when he was hired as an independent marshal for a town without an organized police department. That led to a position with an organized police department and attendance at the State Police Academy, where he graduated first in his class. He rose through the ranks quickly and became deputy chief of police and police chief, serving for 25 years in Park Ridge. During his tenure, he organized and trained an innovative 30member police reserve unit, trained to assist the regular officers at public gatherings. The unit members awarded him life membership in their ranks in appreciation for his work. He also founded the Pascack Valley Detective Group, another innovation designed to have investigators from all jurisdictions in the region gather and exchange criminal information and intelligence on a regular basis, greatly improving their communication and the coordination of their efforts. He was a life member of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association, the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association, the New Jersey Police Honor Legion, and a charter member of the New Jersey Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association. He was also a member of the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Detectives Clinic and was honored by that group for his work. Rudy also served as a member of the New York Metropolitan Area Committee on Organized Crime and was president of the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Law Enforcement Council. On the local level, he was a member of the volunteer Tri-Boro Ambulance Corps, serving as captain and board of governors member and president. He served on the Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment and various other education and community organizations, including for more than 20 years as emergency management coordinator and 20 years as liaison for the New Jersey TV and Motion Picture Commission. Upon retirement, he was presented by his congressman with a flag flown over the nationʼs Capitol and was recognized by the New Jersey State Senate and State Assembly. In private life, Rudy always enjoyed antique automobiles, owning a wide variety of cars, ranging from four-to-12-cylinder vehicles. He often won awards for his cars, which also appeared in movies, most famously his 1940 Cadillac, CONTINUED ON PAGE 31
