Willis "Bill" Swales

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Pascack Valley High School Bloomsburg University Montclair State University Rutgers University

Willis Swales Obituary

Montvale, NJ

Willis "Bill" Swales, 82, the former Mayor of Montvale, died Wednesday, October 29, 2008.

Born in Clearfield, PA to Alma Josephine and Willis Swales, he attended school in South Williamsport, PA. He joined the Marines, serving in WW II and Korea. He retired after 30 years as a Colonel.

He was awarded a BS in Science from Bloomsburg State College in Pennsylvania, a Masters in Administration from Rutgers University and a Masters in Science from Newark College of Engineering, with National Science Foundation grants he attended Bucknell University, Stewart Institute of Technology, Montclair State University, William Patterson College, Ramapo and Farleigh Dickinson University.

He taught in Troy, PA, Hillside, NJ, Summit, NJ, and in 1963 became Science Department Chairman at Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale; from which he retired in 1986. He received a Real Estate License and was a Realtor for Burgdorff Realtors for almost 20 years. He entered politics in Montvale serving first on the Juvenile Conference Committee and Planning Board, became Councilman, and then Mayor of Montvale from 1971-1975. He served as a member of the Bergen County Energy Committee, Ethics Board, Private Industry Council, and the Bergen County Planning Board. He was on the Board of Directors of the TriBoro Ambulance Corps for nine years, helping to raise money for the building they now have.

He formed the Montvale Business Association, of which he was still a member. He was an active member of the Park Ridge Rotary Club for 44 years, and was a past president of that organization. In 1992 he was honored to be named in "Who's Who" in NJ. He truly lived the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self."

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nancy; his daughter, Marti and her husband, Roy Cuny of Katy, TX; his daughter, Jeri and husband, Dan Wessberg of Wallkill, NY; son, Larry and his wife, Colleen of Rock Tavern, NY. Also a proud grandfather of Christine, Roy and Michelle Cuny, Linda and Jessica Wessberg, Tara and Harrison Swales; sister-in-law, Sara Swales and brother-in-law, Leon Dawes; much beloved nieces and nephews, Darryl and Dawn Kehrer, Allan and Cathy Kehrer, Lauralee and Mike Nichols, Lisa Cropper and Matt Swales.

Friends are invited to a "Celebration of Life" on Sunday, November 2, at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton, 200 Tice Blvd., Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677. Please come and share your warm memories of Bill from 7-8 p.m., with reception to continue until 9 p.m.

Cremation will be private.

Donations to TriBoro Ambulance Corps, PO Box 204, Park Ridge, NJ 07656 would be appreciated.

Arrangements by Robert Spearing Funeral Home, Inc.,Park Ridge, NJ, 201-391-6666. SEMPER FI!!!

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Times Herald-Record on Nov. 2, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Willis Swales

4 Entries

Michelle Cuny

November 5, 2008

My name is Michelle Cuny, I am one of 7 grandchildren of Willis Swales. Thank you to everyone who attended my Grandfather's "Celebration of Life" on Nov. 2nd. I know he was looking down from heaven smiling at how well that turned out. And for those of you who were not able to attend thank you for all of your prayers and sympathy. This was one amazing man and he will be greatly missed. Semper Fi Grandpa and save me a Pepsi up there!! We love you and miss you!

DAN SCULLY

November 3, 2008

My deepest condolences go out to Bill Swales and his family. I was a close friend and schoolmate of Larry Swales. May god bless you all.

PVHS Class of 1967

November 2, 2008

The Pascack Valley High School Class of 1967 send our heartfelt sympathy in the loss of one so dear.

Linda Dohm

October 31, 2008

Dear Nancy,

I was so sorry to read of Bill's passing. My deepest sympathy to you all.

I have so many fond memories of him, in all of his endeavors, while I was with the "Local Review" and as just plain Montvalian for many years. I'm sure I typed his name a million times !!!! I probably still have every single article that I wrote so many years ago.

As you may know, I sat through countless borough meetings over the years. These were the formative years and the birth of " The Mayor's Blue Chip Ratable Committee " , which ultimately became the Montvale Business Association.

Over the 22 years I have been in Georgia ,I have told numerous people, including my associates in various municipal bodies and Rotarians that Bill, and his collegues, Artie, Vic, Al, Dave, Bill Foster, and so many others on the Zoning and Planning Boards, were "truly visionaries in their time ", and I have gone on the describe how they developed the Master Plan and the guidelines for the growth of Montvale to what it is today, so many years later, especially the classic "60-40 ordinance "

I also fondly remember his efforts for Tri-Boro, the Fire Department, MAL and of course his years at Hills when I was in and out of there so often.

It was Bill's guiding hand that made Montvale what it is today and I , even as a former resident who still calls it " up home" , am profoundly grateful for his many,many contributions.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and the children.

Most sincerely,
Linda Dohm
( formerly of " The Local Review " )and Mom of Ray and Dianne

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