Obituary of George McGuire

McGuire, George N., age 89, died peacefully on Friday, June 12, 2009. Born in Weehawken, he has been a resident of Wyckoff for forty nine years. George was employed by The Port Authority of NY and NJ for forty seven years. During that time he was properties manager of Newark Airport when he retired in 1984. During World War II, he achieved the rank of First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps where he served as a navigator bombardier in an air offensive over Europe. On his forty seventh mission, he was shot down behind enemy lines. George was awarded the Purple Heart and Presidential Citation upon his return from Europe. A parishioner of St. Elizabeth's R.C. Church of Wyckoff, he served as lector, Eucharistic Minister, in the Renew ministry, the Liturgy committee and the St. Elizabeth's Senior's. He was instrumental in beginning the church's high school CCD and Cornerstone programs. George especially enjoyed his work as a scoutmaster in Troop 89 for many years and he served as a board member for the Boy Scout Council of Bergen County. He was a member of American Legion Post #83, Wyckoff , VFW Post #7086 and St. Elizabeth's 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus #13670. George is survived by his beloved wife Elizabeth "Betty" to whom he was married for 64 wonderful years, his daughter Pegeen Jones and husband Jeffrey of Wyckoff, his four grandchildren: Melissa, Rebecca, Kendra and Jeremy, and his four great-grandchildren: Wendell, Kellen, Julia and Brenden. He was predeceased by his son Peter Shawn McGuire in 1997. Friends may visit on Tuesday, 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Ave. Wyckoff. Funeral Mass, Wednesday, 11:00 AM at St. Elizabeth's R.C. Church, 700 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff. Interment at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Troop 89, Boy Scouts of America, c/o Mr. Ernie Reinitz, Treasurer, 434 Carlton Road, Wyckoff, NJ 07481, would be appreciated.