Obituary of Charles Cole

COLE, Charles M. age 81 of Wyckoff, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, July 21, 2012. Born in New York City, Charlie lived in Lake Charles, LA before moving to Wyckoff in 1956. He was a graduate of Ridley College in Ontario, Canada in 1949 and Hamilton College in Clinton, NY in 1953. At the time of his retirement in 1992, Charlie was the Purchasing Manager for Verizon in New York City after 37 years of service. His contributions to the Township of Wyckoff were innumerable. Charlie was a member of Protection Fire Company #1 in Wyckoff for more than 56 years. He worked his way through the positions of line officers up to Deputy Chief. He also served as President of Protection Fire Co. #1 Association along with many other positions. The most important was that of Operations Director for the NORCON Desk (Northwest Bergen Regional Mutual Aid Association). Charlie was awarded the prestigious position of Wyckoff Fireman of the Year three times, 1976, 2007 and 2011. He served on the Wyckoff Planning Board for many years, as well as the Township committee from 1981 to 1984. He was Mayor of Wyckoff in 1983. Surviving is his loving wife of 56 years, Alice G. (nee Lawton), his children, Mark and his wife Denise, Katie and her husband Paul Burke, Bob and his wife Eileen and Matt and his wife Jennifer. Charlie was most proud of his grandchildren, Kayla, Maura, Corie, Elizabeth, Zachary, Aiden, Garrett, Brady and Emily. He will also be missed by his sister's and brother's-in-law and nieces and nephews. Charlie was pre-deceased by his brother William C. Cole, his daughter-in-law Jill (nee Van Hook) Cole and his beloved grandson Darrell Cole, who recently died on July 2, 2012. Funeral services will be held Wednesday 11:00AM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. Interment will be private at the Tranquility Cemetery in Tranquility, NJ. Visiting is Tuesday 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Protection Fire Co #1, Scott Plaza, Wyckoff, NJ 07481 or the Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps., P.O. Box 214, Wyckoff, NJ 07481.