Richard “Dick” Berger

Richard J. Berger (“Dick”), age 83, of Kinnelon, passed away surrounded by his loving family at home on Friday, January 22, 2021 after fighting a brave, strong battle against ALS, bladder cancer and heart disease.

Dick was born on July 3, 1937 in Passaic to the parents of Joseph and Magdalena Berger. He grew up in Fair Lawn alongside his older brother, Bob, raised by mechanic father and a tough as nails, four-foot ten mother, who spoke to him in German and ruled the boys with an iron fist.

Dick was a graduate of Bergen County Vocational and Technical High School in Hackensack where he explored his love of doing things with his hands. He expanded upon that innate talent in his first career in sheet metal by joining Tornquist for two years and then Kearfott Corporation in Clifton in March 1960 for the next 13 years, before taking the fork in the road and following his true path toward becoming a police officer. Dick joined the Wayne Police force in 1972 and graduated from William Paterson College in January 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration. His devotion to public service and putting himself on the line every day for the benefit of others as a street cop continued throughout his 25-year career with the force.

Dick was a patriotic member of society and enlisted in the military in September 1956, a radio operator in Company E of the division’s 502d Infantry, and received basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. While starting out in the regular army, he soon signed with the 101st Airborne division, “The Screaming Eagles” as a paratrooper through 1958.

When Dick was just 18, he met his love and life partner, Ann “Sherry” Berger and the couple married on February 20, 1960. After marriage, the new couple lived in both Haskell and then East Rutherford for a period of time, before moving to Wayne and being blessed with three daughters then in 1998 relocated to Kinnelon to be closer to their daughters.

Dick was a consummate family man and the proud head of his family. He will be forever remembered for staunch commitment to the family vacation. From the early years with his own nuclear family with winter trips to Lake Placid and summer camping adventures fishing in the Catskills, to the eventual, extended family annual trips with the grandkids skiing in Vermont, the annual family summer shore week in Long Beach Island, and endless deep sea fishing trips in Long Island. Dick was the model grandfather in his ATV rides, instructional bow and arrow lessons, whiffle ball at the beach, competitive snowball fights, singing Silent Night in German while playing the organ, and infinite number of games of California Rummy. Dick was known to sit at the head of his family dinners and marvel at “all he and Mom had created”.

Dick’s passions in life revolved around his beloved activities, skiing, fishing, boating and especially hunting, a record holder in both Boone and Crockett and 3 times over in Pope and Young for his kills. Dick’s annual pilgrimages to Illinois for big buck and elk hunting are the fodder of a myriad of family stories, he skied in Italy and Wyoming with friends, summer after summer spent on his boat “Bad Boy” in Lake Hopatcong, and to Alaska for wild salmon fishing.

Dick was known as a no-nonsense, says it like he sees it guy, and who led his life with the motto “I did it my way.”  Yet, his tough exterior covered a compassionate soul who would do anything for family. Dick was a lover of a good party, Southern Comfort on the rocks, and ripping up the dance floor.

Dick was the beloved husband of Sherry, blessed in marriage for 60 years. He was the loving, devoted father of: Lisa Locarno and husband Michael of Kinnelon, Lori Micciche and husband Peter of Kinnelon, and Linda Salmon and husband Ron of Lower Saucon, PA; cherished grandfather of: Marissa Mongelli and husband Tom of Pompton Plains, Nick Locarno of Avon, Colorado, Jennifer Locarno of Beaver Creek, Colorado, Maranda Micciche of Kinnelon, Aquinnah Silverman of Lower Saucon, PA and Bela Silverman of Lower Saucon, PA.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Dick’s name are asked to consider one of two charitable organizations:

ALS Association – Greater New York Chapter

42 Broadway, Suite 1724

New York, NY 10004

If sending a check, please click here for printable donation form and make your check payable to “ALS Association Greater New York Chapter”

If donating online, click here als-ny.org

The American Heart Association

P.O. Box 417005

Boston, MA 02241-7005

If donating online, click here donatenow.heart.org