Edward A. Jesser Jr.

FUNERAL HOME

C. C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home - Ridgewood

306 E Ridgewood Ave

Ridgewood, New Jersey

Edward Jesser Obituary

JESSER Edward (Ned) A., Jr., passed away peacefully in his ninety-first year on August 20, 2007 of Cedar Crest Village, Pompton Plains NJ and formerly of Mahwah, NJ and Ridgewood, NJ. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, daughters Wynne McGrew, Leigh Jesser, son Edward A. Jesser, III (Chip), five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. After his childhood in Hackensack, NJ, he graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA, as a member of the great class of 1939. Shortly thereafter, he married Ruth Anderson in 1940. He served his country during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He attained the rank of Major and was awarded a Certificate of Merit "In Recognition of Conspicuously Meritorious and Outstanding Performance of Duty." In addition, he received two metals: the Croix de Guerre and the Couronne de Chene, for his services to the country of Luxenburg. After returning from the war, he rejoined First National City Bank where he worked until 1960. His banking career, which spanned four decades, included twenty-two years as president or chairman of United Jersey Banks or its predecessor banks. He headed the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, chaired the New Jersey Economic Development Council for ten years, was president of the New Jersey Bankers Association and president of the National Association of Bank Holding companies. He served on the Boards of Directors of seven companies. In addition, he was a Trustee of Lafayette College from 1968 to 1986 and subsequently an emeritus member of the Board. His involvement with the College included chairing the Alumni Council (1961-62), and the Maroon Club. In honor of his service to the College, the Alumni Association presented him with its two most prestigious awards: the George Washington Kidd, Class of 1836, Award in recognition of his professional attainments in the field of banking and the Joseph E. Bell '28 Alumni Distinguished Service Award. In 1999, he received the Lafayette Medal for Distinguished Service, the highest honor the College bestows upon a volunteer. The combination of this record of outstanding volunteer service plus his and his wife's philanthropy to the College was recognized by their induction into the Societe d'Honneur at Lafayette College. In 2001, the Northern New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts of America presented him a Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer work, which included three terms as president of the Bergen Counsel's board, and his philanthropy. Viewing will be at the C.C. Van Emburgh, Inc. Funeral Home, 306 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ from 1-2:15 PM on Tuesday, August 28, 2007, followed by a service at 3pm at the Chapel at Cedar Crest Village, Pompton Plains NJ. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Lafayette College, 307 Markle Hall, Easton, PA 18042 would be appreciated by the family. www.vanemburgh.com

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Published by The Record/Herald News on Aug. 24, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Edward Jesser

5 Entries

Chris Thacher

September 5, 2007

Dear Ruth and the Jesser family,

Some of my earliest memories are the stories my mother and father (Betty and Russ Thacher) told me about their friendship with the Ruth and Ned. As I understand it they all grew up in Hackensack and my mom and Ruth went to college together. As I grew up our families shared many social events together and I got to know the Jessers personally. Leigh is a year or two younger than I am and we went to Ridgewood High at the same time and even shared a class together (public speaking if I remember correctly). The last time I saw Ned and Ruth is some years ago before my father died. Mom and dad were visiting from California and we drove out to Long Island to see them. I will always remember Ned as a genuinely nice man. He was truly a class act; the kind they just don't make anymore. My condolences and best wishes to all the Jessers.

Patrick Mancuso

August 29, 2007

To the Jesser family, we extend our sympathy. Ned was always very interested in what was happening in the Village of Ridgewood. He was a caring and wonderful human being who set a great example for others to follow.

BRUCE ALTSCHULER

August 27, 2007

Ned was my dad's frat bro at Lafayette and my boss at UJB. I always thought the world of both him and Ruth. Did you know that his first experience with a finger bowl after a lobster dinner in Easton about 1938 he drank the lemon water? We'll miss him- Bruce and Angela Altschuler

Di, Ken, Scott '99 and Steve '02 Rosen

August 25, 2007

Dear Chip, Ruth and the Jesser Family,
Please know how sad our "Leopard hearts" are to hear about Ned and we extend our sympathies to you all. It is with much respect, love and admiration we honor this wonderful man's life. Our sons, Scott '99 and Steve '02, went to and graduated from Lafayette wholly due to Ned and his patience and perseverance in getting them there. It was seven of the most amazing years we as their parents ever had or could hope to have! Our sons loved and enjoyed every single second of it ~ and we got to see Ned many times on campus and at the Deke house. He even tailgated with us a few times for Homecoming and once with the Lafayette~Lehigh game! We were thrilled to present him with his own specially made 'Leopard cake' several years ago and think he was even more excited that we were!! And we were excited !! It was terrific.
Over these last many years (we met them in 1994) Ruth and Ned and our family got together for lunches either at the Ramsey Country Club or at Arcola, and even a few times at their Mahway condo. They are memories we will always cherish, as are all the saved notes Ned wrote to our sons over these many years. Whenever Ned was recruiting in Mahwah High School, he always looked Ken up in the Math Department and they played catch up for as long as the could ~ and as a result Ken always was recruiting his students to seek out Lafayette and many did. Friday became his "Lafayette sweatshirt" day and invariably, Ned was there then and just beamed.
Watching him lead all the Deke brothers in their 'Lion March' totally through the entire DKE house, down the front stairs and outside is something we will never forget!! We have so many pictures of him and Ruth which we will forever treasure (and the above one was sent per Ned's request to the Alumni paper. We always made printed copies of anything we did together for them and they loved it!) Being personally invited by your parents to attend the "Jesser Hall at South College" opening was so special in all our lives and seeing them get their 'brandy new Lafayette fishing hats' was terrific! Your dad used to kid me that he had his own room in Ruef for when he stayed on campus, and I'd kid him back that Scott had lived there for two years (then in Phi Psi) and Steve in South for two years then DKE for two years, so he could hang out with either of them!! He loved that and we laughed about it every time.
Having your dad personally escort us to the after graduation reception in 1999 and again in 2002 was the best. Seeing him receive the award in '99 at Scott's graduation brought tears of happiness to our eyes. Watching him lead the alumni and faculty in during Steve's graduation in '02 was another highlight. He was so happy that he was chosen to do that and to carry in the bell, I believe, it was. We have pictures of that also. Knowing that two such special events happened to him at such special times in our lives for our sons, made it all the more memorable.
Your dad knew that both of our sons went into banking ~ following in his footsteps and both are doing so well. He stayed in touch with them via notes he'd write and they speak of Ned often as a mentor and such a role model to follow and live up to, and I know they will be there on Tuesday to celebrate his wonderful life. When Steve called us here in Florida to tell us about Ned (we moved from West Milford, NJ almost two years ago), he said 'that man is definitely going to be God's right arm." We all believe that truer words were never spoken. He was so special ~ so humble ~ so admired and so treasured by all of us. We all feel so blessed to have had him and Ruth be a part of our lives.
God's blessings to all of you, and it is with deep friendship of a wonderful man and with much sympathy to all in your family that we send our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,

Linda Carlson

August 25, 2007

I met him several times at the DKE house while my son Peter Carlson was a student at Lafayette College 1998-2002.Such a gentelman.

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