Spring 2004 Edition

More Nominations to Fair Lawn's Hall of Fame In a previous edition, we had numerous nominations for Fair Lawn's Hall of Fame.  Here's some more.   Nick Felice If I were permitted to cast a vote for the Hall of Fame candidate for Fair Lawn it would be for Nick Felice. Even through he & I were on different sides of issues he always was willing to listen to people such as myself and in the end cast his votes that would benefit most people even if they didn't support him personally. (Nominated by H.F. Schmidt)   This photo of Nick Felice opening an old ice box,  was taken recently at the Cadmus House.      Marge and Julian Bornstein Marge and Julian were active leaders in the Jewish community and the Fair Lawn community-at-large for the over fifty years they were residents. One rarely went to a community event without finding both there. Born in the Bronx, Marge attended New York public schools. She went to The University of Wisconsin, where she met Patersonian Julian Bornstein.   They were married after they graduated and then moved to a home in Fair Lawn on Bellair Avenue.  In early 1946, after having two children they moved to a larger house on Burbank Street where they had two more children and lived until their respective deaths in 1992 and 1994.   Julian was elected to and served a single term on the Fair Lawn Borough Council in 1952. An active Rotarian, Julian did everything from serving pancakes at the Annual Pancake Breakfast to serving as president. He could be found on most Memorial Days marching down Fair Lawn Avenue.  Deeply involved in the Jewish community, he was one of the founding members of the Fair Lawn Jewish Center and served as one of its earliest presidents.   About forty years later, Marge served as the Center’s first woman president. In addition, over the years she served as the president of nineteen different Jewish and community organizations, including Jewish Family Service of North Jersey, the Jewish Community Housing Corporation, Sisterhood of the Fair Lawn Jewish Center, Fair Lawn Hadassah, Fair Lawn Community School, Fair Lawn Mental Health Center and the Fair Lawn Jewish Community Council.   One of her major concerns was education. She presided over the Roosevelt School PTA, Fair Lawn PTA Council and was elected to the Fair Lawn School Board, where she served for twelve years, several as president.  She also served on the boards of the Central Bergen Mental Health Center and the Fair Lawn Senior Citizens Housing Corporation. She served on the Maurice M. Pine Free Public Library Board and the Fair Lawn Ballet Company. She was on the first Juvenile Committee established in Fair Lawn and was instrumental in the development of Memorial Park. She helped establish Fair Lawn ’s Council/Manager government, to register voters, fight drug abuse, build schools and plan the Borough’s Twenty-Fifth Anniversary program.   Proud parents, Marge and Julian had four children (Fredric, Andrew, Faye, and Steven). All attended Fair Lawn public schools and graduated from Fair Lawn High School.   Giving to the Fair Lawn community was an integral part of their lives. Marge and Julian balanced their civic interests, business pursuits and family responsibilities in a way that all were fulfilled and none felt compromised.   They both devoted many hours to the welfare of the community and did so graciously and with dignity. Marge's interests ranged from the Board of Education to the Library to Jewish causes to the Mental Health Center and the local Ballet. Both she and my father balanced family, personal needs and public life in such a way that all were fulfilled. (Nominated by Faye "Jimi" Bornstein Moore)     Matt Healey I would nominate Matt Healey as a candidate for the Fair Lawn Hall of Fame. Matt's untiring dedication to the Fair Lawn All Sports Association and the Girls Soccer Program was/is instrumental in allowing soccer to be a part of the town's female athletes.   His efforts resulted in participation increases in not just girls to play soccer, but parents that support the girls, the sport and Fair Lawn. (Nominated by Bob O'Haus)     Bob Langan I would like to see my Dad, Bob Langan, who was the Chief of the Police reserves for many many years. He was dedicated to Fair Lawn and it's police force. He volunteered his time since the 1950s until his death in 1996. (Nominated by Pat Smith)        Henry "Pop" Milnes Henry "Pop" Milnes established the Fair Lawn Boys Club in the late forties or perhaps the early fifties. It was located in the old police station.   He also established a summer camp for boys -- Camp Carlson which was located in the Kittatinny Mountains.  It was a camp where boys were taught Indian lore, rocks and minerals, crafts, etc.   I recall, as a 10 year old, I had to hike over a mountain, stay the night, feed myself, and return to get my Trail Blazer award. Pop Milnes was a great boy's leader, and even legally adopted several children into his own household. We all loved this man. (Nominated by Bob Delray)     Nick Vanore Former police chief Nick Vanore was highly respected by all, and especially by kids. Vanore was a catalyst in sponsoring a team in Fair Lawn 's first little league in 1951. I was a member of that PBA team. (Nominated by Bob Grubb ' 57 FLHS)   Sam Greydanus I nominate my dad, Sam Greydanus, a Fair Lawn pioneer. He joined others on the bus to Trenton to convince the State Legislators to incorporate Fair Lawn as a borough separate from Saddle River Township . That accomplished, he became a member of the Fair Lawn Improvement Association, Justice of the Peace, Captain of the volunteer police force called Marshals, volunteer fireman in Company #1, member then President of the Board of Education, and chairman of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protective Association of Fair Lawn which was organized by borough employees to secure passage of civil service rights.   He was appointed Fair Lawn Road Superintendent in 1930 and when the Dept. of Public Works was established in 1949 he was appointed as Superintendent of that department, a position he held until his death in 1960. (Nominated by Carol Bennett)       Andrew E. Fox I would like to nominate Andrew E. Fox and his son Andrew J. Fox for their devotion to their home town.  Serving Fair Lawn in the fire department and through politics, they worked selflessly to see Fair Lawn prosper and grow into a great place to live. (Nominated by Bill Fox)     Helda Walsh Many "old-timers" (I'm 59 and grew up in Fair Lawn during the fifties and early sixties) will remember Helda for the encouragement she gave many young adults (12-17 year olds) in their pursuit of sports and just plain growing up.  She worked as the director of the Columbia Terrace Recreation area.  She was the leader of the volunteer group that put the Columbia Heights pond into shape for swimming, and the Walsh Pool was named after her.  (Nominated by Howard Kravitz)   Ed Cooper   A Fair Lawn resident from 1955 until his death in 1989. AMBULANCE CORPS:  A 31 year member of the Fair Lawn Volunteer Ambulance Corps (FLVAC), there is a street named after him (in front of the Corps) called Cooper Way.  A seven time President of FLVAC, he also served as Vice-President, Trustee and Secretary almost continuously during his membership. He was the FLVAC first aid training and equipment officer for many years and also a CPR instructor for more than 20 years.   COMMUNITY SERVICE: He founded and participated in the Fair Lawn Community Blood Bank (including President in 1969-1970).  He helped organize and chair the Fair Lawn Community Health Fair in 1973.  He served on Fair Lawn's Health Advisory Board since its inception through roughly the late 80's.  He also volunteered in the emergency rooms of St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson / Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.   ARMY:  A member of 47th Armored Medical Battalion in WW II, Cooper was directly involved in designing and maintaining a prototype M*A*S*H unit.  Cooper was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding duty.  He was also awarded a purple heart.  (Nominated by Ron Lottermann)       Lewis Sprechman My father, Lewis Sprechman, was a long-time resident of Fair Lawn and spent most of his adult life giving towards his community. He owned a business for over 30 years (passed down from his father), he held positions on the Board of Education as a member and past president. He worked on the Ambulance Corps. for many years and held a town council position before becoming Mayor. (A Republican no less!)    A particularly awkward situation was when my Dad was President of the Board of Education. I was in high school at the time and there was a music teacher, Mr. Spangler, who was not going to be given tenure. The students signed petitions, staged sit-ins and demanded to be heard at an open meeting of the Board of Education. I was one of those students. My dad and I went head to head (I got in trouble for the sit in) – it was even in the Bergen Record! The great part was that he made it very clear that he was proud that I stood up for something I believed in even though he disagreed.    I will never forget a time in the summer when my dad came home and walked in the front door covered in blood. He was wearing a pastel colored sweater and white (probably polyester – ugh!) slacks and blood was everywhere. Of course, my first thought was it was his, but as he explained, he was on Rt. 208 and saw a teenager get hit by a car. He immediately went into his ambulance corps. mode and took the situation in hand until help arrived. He never left that kid’s side. I met that person later on in school and told me how much it had meant to him that my dad was there to help him.    I remember watching him at some town council meetings. The one thing you never had to worry about was my father’s honesty and integrity. Everyone always knew he would hear you out, assess the situation, and then tell you how it was. Soft voice – powerful man – always respected. (Nominated by Amy DeBellis)   Ken Marks I am presently the president of Fair Lawn All Sports Association. We have had many members over the years that deserve recognition as pioneers and devoted citizens helping our organization work with the kids of Fair Lawn. I would like to nominate one of our directors as a great contributor to All Sports. His name is Ken Marks and he has been involved in All Sports since the beginning. Ken still comes to all our meetings, is in charge of our good and welfare committee, a member of our scholarship committee, and handles all new membership applications.  Ken also is a scholarship contributor. For someone to be as devoted and concerned with the all sports association for all these years, i wish to recognize Ken Marks as a Hall of Famer from Fair Lawn All Sports Association. (Nominated by David Reiter)   Phil Plotch I know he likes to keep a low profile, but the Fair Lawn News editor promised me that he would publish any nomination for the Fair Lawn Hall of Fame that I wrote, as long as it wasn't about a current elected official.     Phil deserves to be nominated for the Hall of Fame for his tireless efforts on behalf of the community.  Since moving to Fair Lawn less than ten years ago, he initiated pedestrian improvements, served on the Economic Development Committee, Planning Board and Business Leaders Committee.     But, most important of all, he started my very favorite web site Fair Lawn News, including the free classified ads.  He also started the bulletin board (which is usually something he can be proud of.)   He truly believes that if people can better understand problems, they can then work together to solve them.  (Nominated by Linda Shapiro)       Others Dr. Dave Sime held the record for the 100 yard dash while at Duke. Millie Perkins, actress who started in The Diary of Anne Frank.  Bobby Wright went to the US Military Academy and was a shining star during the 1958-60 era of FLHS.  Frank Bennett, teacher and HS coach helped many of us through high school and adjusting to life. Virgil Sasso, Superintendent of Schools, is another name to consider.  (Nominated by Howard Kravitz) Who do you think should be in Fair Lawn's Hall of Fame?   Send your thoughts and pictures to editor@fairlawnnews.com