Garret A. Hoogerhyde Sr.

Garret A. Hoogerhyde Sr., 95, of North Haledon, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday morning, October 19, 2025.

‍

Born in Paterson, Garry was the firstborn of Carl and Marie (Wiegel) Hoogerhyde’s six children. He grew up in Prospect Park in the family home at 111 Brown Avenue. A member of the Class of 1946 at Eastern Academy (now Eastern Christian High School), he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pace University in New York City.

‍

In October 1951, Garry was inducted into the U.S. Army, where he proudly served at an anti-aircraft radar site protecting New York City. Following his honorable service, he began a long and rewarding career as a Certified Public Accountant.

‍

Garry’s first position was with Betts and Gilmore CPAs on Virginia Avenue in Paterson, and his apartment was conveniently located just above the office—leaving him no excuse to ever be late. Over the years, as his mentors retired, Garry assumed leadership of the firm, partnering with several colleagues along the way. His last partner was Dave Baker, giving the firm its name: Hoogerhyde & Baker CPA’s. For a time, he ran the business out of his home on John Ryle Avenue in Haledon. Most of the firm’s history was spent at 909 Belmont Avenue and later at 886 Belmont Avenue in North Haledon. In 2000, Garry sold his share of the business to his son Douglas, but he continued to come into the office—mainly to chat with longtime clients and let Doug handle the paperwork—until full retirement in 2019.

‍

Garry was the devoted husband of Marlene (Kara) Hoogerhyde for 70 years, until her passing in November 2024. Their love story began with a blind date arranged by a friend while Garry was on military leave. Intent on making a good impression, he showed up at Marlene’s home in his full Army uniform. Though neither remembered the specifics of that first date, it clearly made a lasting impact. They were married on May 8, 1954, at the Hawthorne United Methodist Church, with a reception in the church fellowship hall, and honeymooned through New England, finishing at Niagara Falls.

‍

The newlyweds settled in the Virginia Avenue apartment above Garry’s first office. Over the years, the family moved several times, including a relocation prompted by the planned construction of Route 80—which would have cut directly through their living room. Eventually, they settled in North Haledon at 326 Squaw Brook Road, where they raised their eight children. Later, they moved to 22 Brian Court, and most recently resided at the Windmere (formerly the Holland Christian Home) in North Haledon.

‍

Faith was the foundation of Garry and Marlene’s life together. Introduced to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church through the ministry of Grace OPC in Fair Lawn, they joined the congregation in 1956. Garry was ordained and installed as a ruling elder two years later. Over 63 years of service, he became probably the longest continuously serving elder in the history of the OPC, ministering at Grace OPC (Fair Lawn), Emmanuel OPC (Whippany), Living Hope OPC (Nutley), and Church of the Covenant OPC (Hackettstown).

‍

Garry taught Old Testament adult Sunday School classes and served the denomination in remarkable ways, including: 56 years on the Home Missions Committee, 58 years on the Pensions Committee, 43 years overseeing the hospitalization plan, and 36 years as the president of the Loan Fund Board. In 1976, he was elected moderator of the denomination’s General Assembly.  In addition, he served on the Presbytery of New Jersey’s Home Missions Committee, Diaconal Committee, and as its treasurer.

‍

To those who served alongside him, Garry embodied the qualities of a wise elder—humble, prayerful, joyful, and filled with Spirit-led wisdom. He worked tirelessly and quietly, always for God’s glory, never his own. In reflecting on his years of service, Garry would often say: “It’s astounding to realize that the Lord saw fit to use me that length of time and that the church feels I’ve been useful. That is encouraging and humbling—but it’s the Lord’s work. Unless the Lord had done it, it wouldn’t have happened.”

‍

Even with a demanding professional life and active church involvement, Garry found time to serve elsewhere. All eight of his children attended Eastern Christian Schools, and when asked to serve as president of the school board, he answered the call. He also served on the board of American Christian Schools in Succasunna, on the board of Christian Schools International and on their pension committee, on the pension funds for Christian Health Care Center (now Christian Health) and the Passaic County Public Employees’ Pension Fund, and on the advisory committee that helped launch Atlantic Stewardship Bank (now part of Columbia Bank).

‍

Garry also made room for hobbies. A passionate philatelist and numismatist (stamp and coin collector), he loved crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, and quiet moments in his easy chair with a hot cup of coffee and sacred hymns or classical music playing in the background. Nights often ended with The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson—prompting Marlene’s frequent calls from the bedroom to “turn it down!”—or family Star Trek nights, the only time the kids could watch TV at dinner.

‍

He also loved road trips. With many of his children attending Dordt College, he cherished the long drives between North Haledon and Sioux Center, Iowa. Trips to Vermont were special favorites, and visits by plane to his sons in Washington State became treasured memories.

Garry was a man of strong convictions, anchored in his Christian faith. Though accomplished, he remained profoundly humble, often deflecting praise. His life of service to his family, work, church, and community was, to him, simply a way to follow Christ’s example. Principled yet approachable, firm yet kind, Garry treated everyone—from the janitor to the CEO—with the same respect and friendly smile. And to all who knew him, that warm, familiar chuckle will always be remembered.

‍

Garry was predeceased by his beloved wife Marlene in 2024. He was the loving father of eight children: Stephen Hoogerhyde of Hackensack; Susan and husband George Lindemulder of Wanaque; Roy and wife Juanita Hoogerhyde of Nazareth, PA; Kathleen and husband Timothy Kline of Fair Lawn; Glenn and wife Jill Hoogerhyde of Lynnwood, WA; Stuart and wife Karen Hoogerhyde of Lynden, WA; Garret Jr. and wife Anita Hoogerhyde of Bothell, WA; and Douglas and wife Leah Hoogerhyde of Franklin Lakes. He was the cherished grandfather of 20 grandchildren and adored great-grandfather of 23 great-grandchildren. He was the dear brother of the late Arthur Hoogerhyde; Carl Hoogerhyde, Jr. and wife Edna of Hawthorne; the late Lawrence Hoogerhyde and wife Linda of Jenison, MI; Marie Zuidema and husband Fred of Portage, MI; and Kenneth and wife Pamela Hoogerhyde of Lamoine, Maine. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

‍

Special thanks to all who have kept Garry in prayer, visited him, called him, and encouraged him in his final days on this earth.  Also, his family would like to express our deep appreciation to the incredibly loving and caring team of caregivers at Windmere, who took amazing care of Garry.  Your work is often hard and thankless, but you took it as a calling as well as a job. Know that you are loved and greatly appreciated by the Hoogerhyde family!

‍

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Garry’s memory to one of the following:

The Orthodox Presbyterian Church

607 North Easton Road, Bldg. E

Willow Grove, PA 19090-2539

Mid-America Reformed Seminary

229 Seminary Dr.

Dyer, IN 46311