Obituary of Herman H Suenholz

Suenholz (Suehnholz), Herman Harry, age 91, of Glen Rock, went to his eternal rest on December 31, 2015. Born in Jamaica, Queens he grew up in Wood-Ridge, graduating from Wood-Ridge High School in June 1942. Upon turning 18, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy where he entered a special program in which he took both Officer Training and Pilot training despite only holding a High School Diploma. He obtained his Aviator Wings in 1944 at the Naval Air Training Center, Corpus Christie,Texas as a Naval Ensign. He flew PBY’s (Flying Boats) and the PB4Y, which was the Navy version of the B-24. After the War he married another Wood-Ridge High School graduate, Helen Jane Andrews, and they moved into a home on Church Street in Lodi. Five years later, they moved to Lincoln Avenue in Wood-Ridge, and then in 1964, the family moved to Glen Rock where he resided for over 50 years. Following a variety of jobs after leaving the Navy, Herman started work at the First National Bank of Jersey City in 1953. At the same time, he attended classes at Fairleigh Dickinson University at night. He graduated magna cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1959. After a series of promotions over the years, Herman was named President of First Jersey National Bank in 1975. While President of First Jersey he served as the Chairman of the New Jersey Banker’s Association. He retired in 1992. Following retirement, Herman became active in a variety of volunteer positions including a Board Member of the Trustees of Jersey City State College and Fairleigh Dickinson University. He was a house member of the Ridgewood Country Club, a parishioner at St. Catharine R.C. Church, Glen Rock and a member of the Ridgewood Hobbyists. He loved fishing and would stock the pond behind his Glen Rock home with trout and bass. He enjoyed playing tennis and was thrilled when he was asked to play in the third annual Robert F. Kennedy New Jersey tournament. He loved to travel with his wife Helen. They both enjoyed going to the opera and always had music playing in their home. He looked forward to family vacations at the Jersey Shore. He was a lifelong New York Yankee fan. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Helen, his children; Elaine Canto and her husband Warner, Robert Suehnholz and his wife Maria, Mary Jo Dervos and her husband Michael, Claire Clinton and her husband Kevin, Margaret Quinn and her husband Victor, Laura Rundle and her husband Rob, his grandchildren; Natalie, Molly, George, Michael, Michelle, Melanie, Matthew, Kyle, Evan, Meredith, Joanna, Caitlin, and Christopher, his great grandchildren; Ellison, Ava, McKenna, Colin, Alaina, Kelsey, Arya, Micah, and Julie, his brother, Ray Suehnholz of Paramus and his sister, Dorothy Dobek of Wood-Ridge, and many nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 pm and 7:00-9:00 pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. The Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, 10:00 am at St. Catharine R. C. Church, 905 S. Maple Avenue, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 with the interment to follow at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Herman’s memory to Life Source Hospice, 230 East Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652.