Obituary of Russell Jordan

Russell C. Jordan passed peacefully at home on Friday, June 26, 2015. He was 91. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he was a resident of Ho-Ho-Kus and Orlando. Having lost his parents at a young age, Russ was raised by his paternal grandparents and graduated from Hasbrouck Heights High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and began his career in manufacturing at J&H Label Processing. He was co-owner of Magnatrol Valve in Hawthorne for 28 years before retiring. Married for 67 years to the love of his life, Joan M. Jordan, Russell was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved spending time with family and friends at Great Gorge and Ocean Beach, and enjoyed skiing, golf, tennis, hiking, bicycling, music, gardening, winemaking and cooking. Later in life, Russ took up roller skating and enjoyed perfecting choreographed rhumbas, tangos and waltzes with his dance skating partners. He was especially fond of traveling and instilled his passion for exploring the natural world in his children and grandchildren alike. Believing in Service Above Self, Russ served as president of the Hawthorne Rotary Club, founder and president of the Hawthorne Blood Association, president of the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Ambulance Corps and an active member of the Community Church of Ho-Ho-Kus. Russ was an enthusiastic supporter of education and the arts, and was grateful for the opportunity to develop a business incubator program at Lehigh University. He also proudly supported science and engineering programs for women at Smith College. Russ is survived by two sons: Robert Jordan and his wife Jean; Richard Jordan; a daughter Joanne Jordan; five grandchildren: Joshua, Andrew, Jeffrey, Jenna and Justin; sister-in-law Linda Arvidson along with many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Joan and his brother, Clifford. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, (vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff. Interment will be private. Contributions in Russell's memory may be made to the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Ambulance Corps, (hhkvac.org), P.O. Box 81, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423.