Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • September 26, 2012 Obituaries Joseph G. Fanneli of Allendale, formerly of Midland Park, died Sept. 17. He was 88. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. Before retiring in 1984, he had been a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service in Park Ridge for 25 years. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, and a member of the Midland Park Knights of Columbus, Pope John XXIII Council #5498. He is survived by his sister Mildred Rieger and his brother-inlaw Julius, and his nephew John Rieger, all of Waldwick. Arrangements were made by the Olthuis Funeral Home in Midland Park. Richard R. Grassey of Allendale and Hobe Sound, Florida, died Sept. 19. He was 81. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War. He was a graduate of The Peddie School, Dartmouth College, and The Tuck School. He was owner and president of Grassey Equipment Company of Glen Rock. He served on the board of governors of the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne, and was a 25-year member of the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park, New York. He was a founding member and officer of the Dartmouth Club of Northern New Jersey, and a member of the Allendale Athletic Association. He is survived by his wife Marilyn (nee Maser) of Allendale, his children Richard R., Jr. of Briar Cliff Manor, New York, Douglas L. of Allendale, and Brenda Grassey of Manhattan, six grandchildren, and his sisters Anita Hoitsma and Nancy Hutcheson, both of Pittstown. Arrangements were made by C.C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home in Ridgewood. Memorial donations may be made to Valley Hospice, 15 Essex Street, Paramus, NJ 07652. Lillian Kaczala, nee Braakman, of Mahwah, formerly of Hillsdale, died Sept. 13. She was 87. She was a member of Faith Reformed Church in Midland Park. She is survived by her husband Walter Kaczala of Mahwah, her daughters Betty Ann Kaczala of Allendale and Sandra Lee Irwin of Danbury, Connecticut, two grandchildren, and two stepgrandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother Frederick Braakman, and her step-granddaughter Josephine Irwin. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to LUNGevity Foundation, 435 North LaSalle Street, Suite 310, Chicago, IL 60654. Elizabeth “Betty” Keffer, nee Hall, of Glen Rock died Sept. 19. She was 90. She was a graduate of Ridgewood High School and attended Kathryn Gibbs Business School. Prior to retiring, she was employed by Patchett, Grode & Topp Insurance Co. She was a member of All Saints Church and its alter guild for over 40 years. She was a Joseph G. Fanneli member of the Saint Ann Guild, and volunteered at The Valley Hospital as a nurse’s aide, at Kurth Cottage, and in the patient relations department. She was a member of the Glen Rock Woman’s Club and chairperson of its Home Life department. She is survived by her children Steve Keffer of San Ramon, California, Doug Keffer of Stockbridge, Vermont, and Priscilla Keffer of Haledon, and one grandson. She was predeceased by her husband Norman F. Keffer, her son John “Buster” Keffer, and her brother John S. Hall. Arrangements were made by of C.C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home in Ridgewood. Memorial donations may be made to All Saints Church, 40 Central Avenue, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 or a charity of choice. Calvin L. Kort of Glen Rock died Sept. 17. He was 85. He attended Stevens Institute of Technology where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and later earned a master’s degree. He worked at Otis Elevator Co. and at Jaros, Baum and Bolles Consulting Firm before establishing Calvin Kort Associates. He specialized in designing elevators for tall buildings. His work can be found in many buildings around the globe, including the world’s tallest. His favorite accomplishment was his unique design of the elevators for the World Trade Center. In the midst of the horror of 9/11, he was proud that his elevators continued to operate, bringing many people to safety before the buildings collapsed. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He was a member of the Upper Montclair Country Club, and Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church, where he served as an elder and a deacon. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline Kort (Van Hassel), his children Dr. Arthur Kort, the Reverend Kathryn Korbon, and James Kort, and two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his grandson Brian. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to the Glen Rock Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 1 Harding Plaza, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 or the Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church, 271 Lincoln Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. George Henry Nukk of Franklin Lakes, formerly of Mahwah, died Sept. 17. He was 74. He was U.S. National Guard veteran. He graduated from Brooklyn Poly Tech High School, where he was a football star. He earned a football scholarship to Cornell University, and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in 1961. He went on to achieve his MBA in 1965 at Columbia University, and earned the designation of Licensed Professional Engineer. He was a member of the Theta Xi fraternity. His engineering career began in the food industry, and spanned the fields of construction materials and commercial roofing. He left corporate life in 1985 to found G&M Roofing of Hackensack. He retired in 2000. He is survived by his wife Dianne, his children Katherin Nukk-Freeman of Short Hills, Randall Nukk of Chicago, and Kristine Nukk of Hoboken, his stepchildren Paul and Neil, nine grand children, and his brother Dr. Alan Nukk. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering with check memo designation “to support research efforts for AML on Dr. Mark Frattini research team” to Dr. Mark Frattini, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, 1275 York Avenue, Box 432, New York, NY 10065. Vivian C. Pope, nee Grit, of Ramsey died Sept. 12. She was 66. She is survived by her children Billy, April, Robert, and Ryan, and seven grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Robert. Arrangements were made by the Robert Spearing Funeral Home, Inc., in Park Ridge. Gerald “Jerry” M. Rutkowski, formerly of Waldwick, died Sept. 12. He was 70. He received his BA and MA degrees from Seton Hall University in South Orange, and embarked on a 34-year teaching career that included Saint Francis in Ridgefield Park, Fairview Middle School, and Palisades Park High School. He taught American History, English, and Latin. He served as Bergen County voter registrar at the high school and was the advisor to the school advisor’s staff. He received the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher’s Award, the Excellence in Teaching Award from Union College, and special recognition from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was employed by Englewood Hospital and Medical Center as a security officer and retired after 27 years as a supervisor. He was a member of the Waldwick Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years, rising from the rank of firefighter to chief of the department in 1995, a position he held for three years. He was a member of the New Jersey State Fire Chiefs Association, and a lifetime member of the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association. His was a member of Mary Help of Christians Church in Parkland, Florida, where he served as a member of the school advisory council and was president. He was employed as a site supervisor by Allied Barton Protective Services and the Festival Flea Market in Pompano, Florida. He is survived by his wife Barbara Ann (nee Dugan), his children Donna and Robert, two grandchildren, and his brother Dr. Leon Rutkowski. Arrangements were made by Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Coral Springs, Florida. Memorial donations may be made to Mary Help of Christians Church, 5980 University Drive, Parkland, FL 33067. Alethea “Lee” Thayer, nee Stoll, of Ridgewood died Sept. 17. She was 92. Before retiring in 1990, she was employed by the Okonite Company in Ramsey for 20 years. She was a parishioner of Saint Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Ridgewood since 1959. She is survived by her sons Richard of Milan, Ohio and George of Westfield, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Richard. Memorial donations may be made to Saint Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, 169 Fairmont Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. A memorial service will be held at Saint Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, Nov. 17 at noon. Vivian C. Pope Calvin L. Kort Gerald M. Rutkowski Richard R. Grassey Lillian Kaczala George Henry Nukk Alethea ‘Lee’ Thayer Elizabeth Keffer