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Corrections Officer From Bergen County Dies Months After Cancer Diagnosis, 51
The New Jersey Department of Corrections is mourning the loss of Senior Correctional Police Officer Ryan Robert Stemple, who died on Monday, Dec. 2.
Ryan, 51, of Park Ridge (Bergen County), was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer that metastasized to a small area of his lung earlier this year, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched for his daughter.
"He was a very proud father, great son, brother, cousin and friend to many," writes Jen Van Cleef in an update on the campaign.
"Ryan expressed he was not afraid to the unknown but more sad. He said he is going to miss …
'Never, Never, Never Give Up:' NJ Teacher Lauren Zucconi Dies After 10-Year Cancer Battle
Lauren Zucconi, a Bergen County teacher, loving wife, and proud Long Beach Island homeowner, passed away on Monday, Nov. 25, after a decade-long battle with cancer, according to her obituary on the Volk Leber Funeral Home website. She was 36 years old.
Her unwavering mantra, “Never, never, never give up,” defined her courageous journey and inspired those around her.
Born in Westwood and raised in Chestnut Ridge, NY, Lauren excelled in academics and athletics, graduating from Spring Valley High School, where she met her soulmate, James Robert Nash, her obituary says. She went on to earn…
Bergen County Hospitals Rank Among Safest In New Jersey
New Jersey hospitals are among the safest in the nation, according to the fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grade report from The Leapfrog Group.
The Garden State ranks in the top 10 states for the highest percentage of "A" hospitals, joining states like Utah, Virginia, and Connecticut. The grades, which are updated twice a year, assess nearly 3,000 hospitals across the country on their effectiveness at preventing medical errors, accidents, and infections.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 30 performance measures to assign grades ranging from "A" to "F," offering patients and fami…
Paterson Drug Dealer Charged In OD Death Of Westwood Victim, 38, Prosecutor Says
A 39-year-old Paterson man has been charged with providing the drugs that allegedly resulted in a fatal overdose of a Westwood man in May, authorities said.
Jesus A. Cantillo is believed to have provided the drugs that led to the death of 38-year-old Lance Kerness, of Westwood, who was found unresponsive in a home on May 2, 2024, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said on Friday, June 28.
Kerness was pronounced dead at the scene, Musella said. Indicators of a possible drug overdose were noted, and detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force were no…
John Zisa, Legendary North Jersey Football Coach, Dies At 61
John Zisa, a football coach throughout North Jersey, died on Sunday May 19, at the age of 61, according to his obituary.
Zisa was born and raised in Paterson and moved to Fair Lawn in 1974, his obituary reads. He coached for more than 26 years at Paterson Catholic, Paramus Catholic, Rutherford and Westwood, according to his coaching biography.
R.I.P. John Zisa words can’t express how much you will be missed. No single person has had a more profound impact on my... Posted by Nick Campanile on Monday, May 20, 2024
In 1980, before his senior year of high school, Zisa dove into a pool,…
'Dear Delusional': Westwood Man, 69, Harassed Local Citizens With Anonymous Letters, Police Say
A 69-year-old Westwood man waged a harassment campaign against citizens who expressed their opinions about various causes in local newspapers, sending anonymous letters to their homes, authorities charged.
Bruce Manning sent the "Dear Delusional" letters to citizens in town and in neighboring Washington Township, Westwood Police Chief Michael Pontillo said.
"These unsolicited anonymous letters were delivered directly to the recipient victims' homes, which was of great concern to [them]," the chief said.
Manning was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 25, and charged with harassment. He was then rel…
