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Vander Plaat Funeral Home

Obituaries
Bergen County Mom Nancy Grasso Dies After Fearless Cancer Battle Bergen County Mom Nancy Grasso Dies After Fearless Cancer Battle
Bergen County Mom Nancy Grasso Dies After Fearless Cancer Battle Beloved Bergen County mom Nancy Grasso died after a fearless five-year battle with cancer on Friday, July 15. She was 59. Born in Long Island, Nancy grew up in Smithtown and Oakland before settling in Mahwah last year, her obituary says. Nancy had worked at the Sunshine Home Health Services in Wyckoff as its Executive Director. Nancy leaves behind her loving husband, Michael; her children, Brianna Kaufman-DeFreese, Nicholas Grasso, and Michael Grasso, Jr.; her brothers, Frank and Michael; as well as several extended family members and close friends. Meanwhile, more than $16,200 had been r…

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by Valerie Musson
Sports
'Own The Mound': Teen Pitcher Charlie Landers Leaves Lasting Legacy In Final Instagram Post 'Own The Mound': Teen Pitcher Charlie Landers Leaves Lasting Legacy In Final Instagram Post
'Own The Mound': Teen Pitcher Charlie Landers Leaves Lasting Legacy In Final Instagram Post Charlie Landers' final Instagram post is how he wanted to be remembered: Not just standing on a pitcher's mound, but owning it. The photo was taken during the 15-year-old Ramapo High School sophomore's last game ever played, and two years into treatment for Ewing Sarcoma, according to his dad, Mark Landers. The Franklin Lakes teen fought cancer tenaciously since 2019, and never let it dull his passion for baseball. In fact, the sport gave him a reason to keep on swinging. During his treatment, he was always looking one step ahead, focusing on how he could get better and get back on the fi…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
'Firefighting Royalty': NJ Legend Larry Rauch Dies 'Firefighting Royalty': NJ Legend Larry Rauch Dies
'Firefighting Royalty': NJ Legend Larry Rauch Dies He was the very definition of “class act,” a father figure and mentor to a multitude who made protecting others their mission. You couldn't help but love him. “Firefighting royalty” one colleague said Monday after learning that retired veteran fire chief and academy instructor Larry Rauch had died a week and a half shy of his 79th birthday. Rauch, the Bergen County Fire Academy’s head instructor for several decades, fought fires for nearly 50 years in Upper Saddle River. He lived there most of his life before moving to Manchester in 2019 with his beloved wife of 58 years, Sherry, who died…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Obituaries
TRIBUTE: Camp Sunshine Counselor, Mahwah HS Lacrosse Coach Allie Garbely Dies, 23 TRIBUTE: Camp Sunshine Counselor, Mahwah HS Lacrosse Coach Allie Garbely Dies, 23
Tribute: Camp Sunshine Counselor, Mahwah HS Lacrosse Coach Allie Garbely Dies, 23 Allie Garbely of Mahwah devoted her life to others. In only 23 years, the Ramapo College student had made a profound impact across the world -- from Ridgewood to Brazil. Although Garbely's life was cut short on Nov. 18, her countless good deeds and uplifting spirit live on the hearts of many. Garbely worked as a camp counselor at Ridgewood's Camp Sunshine, a summer recreational program for children and young adults with multiple disabilities. Her campers remembered her as a friend, more than anything. "Allie Garbely was a caring and loving person and friend of mine," one of her campers …

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Scholarship Honors 'Spunky, Vivacious' Rebecca Klenk Of Franklin Lakes, 18 Scholarship Honors 'Spunky, Vivacious' Rebecca Klenk Of Franklin Lakes, 18
Scholarship Honors 'Spunky, Vivacious' Rebecca Klenk Of Franklin Lakes, 18 A memorial scholarship has been launched to honor Rebecca Natalia Klenk of Franklin Lakes, who died July 9. She was 18 years old. Klenk graduated from Indian Hills High School, where she was in the marching band, and was scheduled to begin Ramapo College to study Marine Biology in the fall. Her obituary remembered her for her vivacious spirit, along with her passion for music, snowboarding, art and travel. "Rebecca was one of hippest, spunkiest and most intelligent young ladies that I ever had the pleasure of teaching," former teacher Cherie McLaughlin wrote.  "My heart is in pieces …

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Former Standout Ramapo HS Athlete Tyler Speziale Dies, 26 Former Standout Ramapo HS Athlete Tyler Speziale Dies, 26
Former Standout Ramapo HS Athlete Tyler Speziale Dies, 26 Tyler Speziale of Wyckoff died on June 20. He was 26 years old. The 2011 Ramapo High School graduate was a standout player on the football and lacrosse teams. More than $1,900 had been raised as of Sunday morning on a GoFundMe for his family. He is survived by his parents, Gerard and Victoria Speziale; brothers Connor and Spencer Speziale; maternal grandmother Hila Jack; along with a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 25 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Funeral services will be private.

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by Cecilia Levine