Austin Volk

VOLK Austin N., age 91 of Englewood died peacefully at his summer home in Southampton NY on Saturday, September 18, 2010. He is survived by his brother, Nicholas Volk of Toronto, CA and his four stepchildren: Deborah G. Saliba of Orleans MA., John C. Glidden Jr. of Closter NJ, James LP Glidden of Holliston, MA and Gordon G. Glidden of Huntington Wood, MI. He is also survived by ten step grandchildren, six step great-grandchildren and eleven nieces and nephews. Austin Nicholas Volk was born in Englewood Hospital in 1919 to Nicholas and Helen Volk. He attended Englewood Public Schools and graduated in 1937 from The Dwight Morrow High School. Upon graduation he was admitted to Brown University, Providence Rhode Island. where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and was a cadet in the US Naval Reserve Officer Training Program. Upon graduation from Brown he was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy and served throughout World War II. He served as Commanding Officer of an LCT during the Battle of Guadalcanal from 1943 to 1945. While in the Solomon Islands in 1941 he discovered and explored an uncharted river which he named Brown Bear River after his beloved Brown University Alma Mater. After World War II Austin entered his family's insurance business, Nicholas Volk and Co. in New York City. As he remained in the Naval Reserve, he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War where he was an LST Commander. He retired from the Navy in 1965 having attained the rank of Captain. After the Korean War, Captain Volk returned to the family insurance business and entered New Jersey politics. He was elected Mayor of Englewood in 1962 and served two terms. His most difficult task was presiding during the Englewood riots of 1967 but he was able to restore peace to the city of Englewood which had seen more than its share of strife. In 1970 Austin was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly and served two terms representing the 37th Legislative District. In 1979 he married Rae P. Glidden, widow of the late John C. Glidden, an Englewood City Council President. Mrs. Rae Volk died in 2009. Austin retired from the insurance business shortly before her death. Austin remained active in military and non-profit organizations. For many years he was a member of the Navy League of the U.S., a civilian organization founded by President Theodore Roosevelt in support of United States Sea Services. Austin was President of the New York Council of the Navy League. In addition, he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Naval War College Foundation, Newport, R.I. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Englewood Hospital and served as Chairman of the Board of the Brookside Cemetery Association, Englewood NJ. Austin was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Englewood and Southampton NY. Friends may call at the Barrett Funeral Home 148 Dean Drive Tenafly on Friday 4-6 PM. Funeral Mass Saturday 10 AM St. Cecilia R.C. Church Englewood. Interment Brookside Cemetery Englewood. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The Navy League of New York or Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County. For directions visit www.barrettfuneralhome.net