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August 20, 2013
Services
A private graveside service is scheduled for 10 AM Friday, August 23, 2013 at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.
James K. Berry, Jr. age 78 of Ringwood, died on Tuesday, August 20, 2013.
Jim grew up in Creskill and Fair Lawn, graduating from Fair Lawn High School with the class of 1953. He served in the Naval Reserves during the Korean War and was proud of his time in the Navy.
Jim had a wonderful stroke of luck at his first job, in a machine shop. He showed an interest in learning more, and was therefore taught drafting and engineering on-the-job. Afterwards, he went to Steven's Tech for more engineering training and continued to learn the old fashioned way; hands-on. He was a quick learner and became quite proficient. He worked as a mechanical project engineer for KEM Manufacturing in Fair Lawn where he designed numerous mechanical machines for their manufacturing processes. He was with KEM for several years before retiring in the early 1980’s. In his retirement he was a self-employed design engineering consultant and day trader. He was a great problem-solver and thinker, able to design and build machines that could do just about anything. His goal in life was to design and create a clean combustion engine. He had built many industrial machines during his lengthy career and he never stopped tinkering at home either. He’s left his family with more than a few projects that he never got around to finishing. His favorite hobby was writing inspirational acronyms which he proudly shared with friends and family.
Jim became very involved with local issues in his hometown of Ringwood. He was chairman of both the Homesteading Committee and the Industrial Committee. With his outspoken style, everyone knew who Jim Berry was and he fought tirelessly to protect and preserve his beloved town of Ringwood.
Jim couldn’t have done all this by himself and much of the credit has to go to his dear wife Carole. They first met at a party in Fair Lawn. Jim took her on their first date to see a Barber Shop Quartet at East Side High School in Paterson. Carole was drawn to Jim as a ‘happy-go-lucky’ guy with a great sense of humor and a natural ability to tell jokes like no one else could. Their courtship soon led to a wedding on September 22, 1962 at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Paterson, followed by a honeymoon in Miami Beach. Their marriage was adventurous and Jim always had something new to try. He would often pack the family into the car and take them all for a road trip – destination unknown. His daughters fondly recall these adventures, whether they were simply day trips, hiking, or up to visit family in Wurtsboro, NY. They once took a three week vacation in California, visiting every significant tourist attraction from north to south. Jim had the most fun panning for gold in the Sierra Nevada Mountains - surely, he too would strike it rich! They stopped everywhere along the way and visited the most beautiful beaches. That trip was filled with lots of great memories that the family enjoyed.
Jim is survived by his wife of fifty one years, Carole, two daughters; Kathleen and her husband Michael, Gwen and her husband Joseph, and two grandchildren; Wade and Drew.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A private graveside service is scheduled for 10 AM Friday, August 23, 2013 at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.
August 20, 2013
Services
A private graveside service is scheduled for 10 AM Friday, August 23, 2013 at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.
James K. Berry, Jr. age 78 of Ringwood, died on Tuesday, August 20, 2013.
Jim grew up in Creskill and Fair Lawn, graduating from Fair Lawn High School with the class of 1953. He served in the Naval Reserves during the Korean War and was proud of his time in the Navy.
Jim had a wonderful stroke of luck at his first job, in a machine shop. He showed an interest in learning more, and was therefore taught drafting and engineering on-the-job. Afterwards, he went to Steven's Tech for more engineering training and continued to learn the old fashioned way; hands-on. He was a quick learner and became quite proficient. He worked as a mechanical project engineer for KEM Manufacturing in Fair Lawn where he designed numerous mechanical machines for their manufacturing processes. He was with KEM for several years before retiring in the early 1980’s. In his retirement he was a self-employed design engineering consultant and day trader. He was a great problem-solver and thinker, able to design and build machines that could do just about anything. His goal in life was to design and create a clean combustion engine. He had built many industrial machines during his lengthy career and he never stopped tinkering at home either. He’s left his family with more than a few projects that he never got around to finishing. His favorite hobby was writing inspirational acronyms which he proudly shared with friends and family.
Jim became very involved with local issues in his hometown of Ringwood. He was chairman of both the Homesteading Committee and the Industrial Committee. With his outspoken style, everyone knew who Jim Berry was and he fought tirelessly to protect and preserve his beloved town of Ringwood.
Jim couldn’t have done all this by himself and much of the credit has to go to his dear wife Carole. They first met at a party in Fair Lawn. Jim took her on their first date to see a Barber Shop Quartet at East Side High School in Paterson. Carole was drawn to Jim as a ‘happy-go-lucky’ guy with a great sense of humor and a natural ability to tell jokes like no one else could. Their courtship soon led to a wedding on September 22, 1962 at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Paterson, followed by a honeymoon in Miami Beach. Their marriage was adventurous and Jim always had something new to try. He would often pack the family into the car and take them all for a road trip – destination unknown. His daughters fondly recall these adventures, whether they were simply day trips, hiking, or up to visit family in Wurtsboro, NY. They once took a three week vacation in California, visiting every significant tourist attraction from north to south. Jim had the most fun panning for gold in the Sierra Nevada Mountains - surely, he too would strike it rich! They stopped everywhere along the way and visited the most beautiful beaches. That trip was filled with lots of great memories that the family enjoyed.
Jim is survived by his wife of fifty one years, Carole, two daughters; Kathleen and her husband Michael, Gwen and her husband Joseph, and two grandchildren; Wade and Drew.
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