Willis "Bill" Swales

SWALES Willis "Bill," 82, former Mayor of Montvale, died 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 World War 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, N.J.; Summit, N.J. 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 Tri-Boro 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 N.J. 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, Texas; his daughter Jeri and husband Dan Wessberg of Wallkill, N.Y.; and son Larry and his wife Colleen of Rock Tavern, N.Y. Also a proud grandfather of Christine, Roy and Michelle Cuny, Linda and Jessica Wessberg, Tara and Harrison Swales. A sister-in-law, Sara Swales and brother-in-law Leon Dawes also survive him. Much beloved nieces and nephews are Darryl and Dawn Kehrer, Allan and Cathy Kehrer, Lauralee and Mike Nichols, Lisa Cropper and Matt Swales.Cremation will be private. Donations to Tri-Boro Ambulance Corps, PO Box 204, Park Ridge, NJ 07656 would be appreciated.Friends are invited to a 'Celebration of Life' on Sunday, November 2nd at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton, 200Tice Blvd. Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677. Please come and share your warm memories of Bill from 7-8 PM, with reception to continue until 9 PM.Arrangements by Robert Spearing Funeral Home, Inc., Park Ridge, NJ.SEMPER FI!!!