Daily Record from Morristown, New Jersey • 13

MORRIS COUNTY Daily Record, Morris County, N.J., Tuesday, February 24, 2004 A13 Bernardsville fire destroys home, kills three animals No human lives were lost, but one person burned in post-celebration blaze BY STEFANIE MATTESON GANNETT NEW JERSEY BERNARDSVILLE Two people jumped to safety from a second-story, window, and another was burned in a rapidly spreading fire that killed three animals and destroyed a large house here Sunday. The source of the fire at 82 Rippling Brook Road a French Country-style house owned by Thomas and Dana Heddon was the electrical panel box, according to Thomas Heddon, who said he learned about the source from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Arson Task Force. But Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said the exact cause remains under investigation. "We're so glad that everybody got out," Heddon said of the seven occupants who were in the house when the fire broke out.

"Thank God no human lives were lost," said Renae Biale of Far Hills, who was staying at the house. "We were seconds away from perishing." Biale lost her 8-year-old white west highland terrier, Lafite, in the blaze, which also killed the Heddons' cat and bird, she said. "Honestly, in my 20 years as a firefighter, this is one of the quickest fires I've seen in terms of consuming a house," said Randy Steinkopf, a spokesman for the Bernardsville Fire Department. He added that it had been a long time since anyone had been injured in a fire in the borough. Brook CONTINUED FROM A11 Hedden Pond dam and retention basin at Hedden Park.

The project calls for the removal of sediment from the pond, new outlets and controls to help regulate the release of water, and raising the dam to 20 feet. In heavy rainstorms the pond would become a holding area for stormwater, reducing the downstream flow. Bank stabilization work along Wallace Brook. The goal is repair scouring of the banks caused by rushing water wearing away soil along the curves of the brook. Also the plan calls for constructing three small stone "check dams" that will help slow the rush of stormwater as the brook runs from Randolph to Hedden Park.

Reconstruction of the Brook Lane bridge in Dover. The bridge runs from Park Heights Avenue over Jackson Brook and allows access for several families. The singlespan would be replaced by two 16-foot spans that would offer 5- Budget CONTINUED FROM A11 rington, chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners. "I'm just trying to give the true facts because whoever put this flyer out, didn't give the true facts," Harrington said. He also wrote a letter to the editor on the subject.

The public is invited to ask any questions at the next meeting of the fire commissioners at 7 p.m. March 4 at the Cedar Knolls Firehouse, he said. "I just want to remind people that if they have concerns, instead of putting anonymous letters out, you're welcome to attend our meeting" Harrington said of any commissioners meeting. In the letter to the editor, Harrington responds to statements about the budget made in the anonymous flyer including the 33-percent increase in the tax rate from 9 to 12 cents that would have been forced had the budget passed Saturday. "This is not an increase in current tax but an your increase in the raise from .09 to .12 on aid service," Harrington wrote.

"A house valued at $200,000 would see an increase of $60 from $180 to $240." The flyer also suggests that the Whippany Fire only responsibility" when the Cedar Department practices "fiscal OBITUARIES Robert V. Delaney Sr. 78, vice president MORRIS TWP. Robert V. Delaney Sr.

died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at Morristown Memorial Hospital. He was 78. Born in Jersey City, he had lived in Whippany before moving to Convent Station 42 years ago. Mr.

Delaney was employed as vice-president of guidance and navigation at Kearfott Wayne. He retired in 1993 after 36 years with the company. A World War II veteran, Mr. Delaney served in the U.S. Navy.

A 1943 graduate of St. Peter's Prep, Jersey City, he earned a bachelor's in engineering and a master's in electrical engineering from Newark College of Engineering (NJIT). He was a volunteer for many years at the Morris County Adaptive Recreation Program (McARP). He also volunteered at Morristown Memorial Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Kelly) Delaney; six sons, Brenden and his wife, Lila of Plainsboro, Neil and his wife, Nancy of Branchburg, Brian of San Francisco, Robert Jr.

of Whippany, John of New York City, and Matthew and his wife, Judy of Chester; a daughter, Barbara Delaney of Pittsburgh; seven grandchildren, Laura, Katelyn, Erin, Keith, Colleen, Arleen and Elizabeth; and a sister, Dorothy Burns of West Trenton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Church of the Assumption, Morristown, Thursday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Holy Rood Cemetery, Morris Township. Visitation will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Doyle Funeral Home, 106 Maple Morristown. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Employment Horizons, 10 Ridgedale Cedar Knolls, N.J. 07927, The ARC of New Jersey, Livingston New Brunswick, N.J. 08903 or the Midland School, Readington Road, North Branch, N.J.

08876. (24, 25) Yvonne M. McPherson 71, formerly of Succasunna BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP, Pa. Yvonne M. McPherson, formerly of Succasunna, died Sunday, Feb.

22, 2004, at her home. She was 71. She was born in Dover to the late A. George and Bertha Fritz Williams. A graduate of St.

Elizabeth's College, Convent Station, she was a teacher at St. Therese's Elementary School, Succasunna, for more than 27 years. She was predeceased by a brother, John. Survivors include her husband of 49 years, James; a son, James G. and his wife, Agneta of Sweden, daughters, Lauren M.

Fisher and her husband, John R. of Great Meadows, and Leslie McPherson-Rider and her husband, Bruce of Hanover Township, a brother, Joseph E. Williams of Mine Hill; and sisters, Sandra Schmidt of Landenberg, and Kathryn Williams of Budd Lake. Also surviving are grandchildren Niclas and Erik McPherson, Kelsey and Gwen Fisher, and Kayleigh and Mallory Rider. Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 27, in Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 3219 Santee Road, Bethlehem Township. Calling hours will be p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, in Strunk Funeral Home, 2101 Northampton Easton, and a.m.

Friday, Feb. 27, in the church. Memorials may be made to St. Therese's Elementary School, Succasunna. Robert J.

Drew Sr. 66, auto body technician BOONTON TWP. Robert J. Drew Sr. died Sunday, Feb.

22, 2004, at his home following a long illness. He was 66. Born in Paterson, he had lived in Boonton Township for 40 years. Mr. Drew was a supervisory auto body technician with Motion Auto Body, Netcong, for three years before retiring in 1996.

Previously, he had been employed in the same capacity with Phillips Chevrolet and Oldsmobile, Boonton, for 30 years. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during peacetime. Mr. Drew was a 32nd degree master mason and a member of Genesis Lodge 88, Pompton Lakes.

He was a past master of Joppa Lodge 29, Paterson, and a past patron of Mountain Lakes Chapter 270, Order of the Eastern Star. His wife, Joyce (Stoll), died in 1991. A daughter, Debra died in August 2003. Mr. Drew is survived by his sons, Robert J.

Jr. and Bruce both of Boonton Township; a daughter, Sandra L. of Boonton; and his cherished grandchildren, Eric Drew, Dana Taran, Robert Drew III, Christopher Drew, Patrick Drew and Amanda Drew. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 26, at 10:30 a.m.

at the Mackey Funeral Home, 107 Essex Boonton, with interment to follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa. Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Mr.

Drew may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, Ohio 44720 or the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Suite 1010, Rockville, Md. 20852- 9813. Florence 'Gloria' S. Rumpf 86, customer service worker BAYVILLE Florence "Gloria" S.

Rumpf died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg, after a long illness. She was 86. Born in Englewood, she had lived in Ridgefield before moving to Bayville 25 years ago. Mrs.

Rumpf worked in customer service for Association Films, Ridgefield. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Amore Chapter 176, Bogota, and formerly the Townly Chapter, Palisades Park. She was predeceased by her husband, J. Rumpf, who died in 1988, and by her son, Thomas. Mrs.

Rumpf is survived by three daughters, Judith Eddy of McMichaels, Karen Berge and her husband, Ronald of Bayville, and Linda Urban and her husband, Edward of Denville; and a sister, Catherine Schwartz of Ridgefield. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Joseph Eddy, Dawn Wisser, William, Gary and Guy Berge, Jennifer Holland, and Dane, Steven and Lauri Urban. Mrs. Rumpf is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at Tuttle Funeral Home, 272 Route 10, Randolph, Thursday, Feb.

26, at 10 a.m. Interment will be in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. Visitation will be 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 2550 Route 1, North Brunswick, N.J. 08902. John T. Lombardo, 80, fireman, usher, veteran MORRISTOWN John T. Lombardo died Saturday, Feb.

21, 2004, at the home of his daughter in Morris Plains. He was 80. Born in Ozone Park, N.Y., he lived in Morristown for 58 years. He was a transporter for Novartis (formerly Sandoz) in East Hanover for 25 years, retiring in 1985. He served in the Army during World War II.

He was a volunteer fireman with the Hillside Hose Co. of the Morris Township Fire Department. He was the head usher and longtime member of the Church of the Assumption in Morristown. Survivors include his beloved wife of 57 years, Angie (Panelli) Virginia Bishop 90, retired bookkeeper DOVER Virginia Bishop died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, at St.

Clare's She was 90. She was born April 11, 1915, in Beattystown to Arthur and Lila Toone DeVoe. She had worked as a bookkeeper 1 for Acme Market, Washington. Mrs. Bishop was a deacon and an elder at Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church.

was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Washington; the Tri County Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary; and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Mrs. Bishop was preceded in death by her first husband, Paul Lunger; her daughter, Frances; three brothers, Malcolm DeVoe, Arthur DeVoe and Smith DeVoe; and two sisters, Marjorie Creager and Florence Humphries. She is survived by her loving husband, Coley Bishop; two brothers, Adrian DeVoe of Pikeville, and Ramond DeVoe of Starke, and two step-daughters, Lois Watt of Bloomingdale and Barbara Tiger of Warwick, N.Y. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

today, Feb. 24, at the chapel of DeVoes Funeral Service, 136 W. Washington Washington. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb.

25, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Washington Cemetery, Washington. Kenneth Paul Hanson 75, expediter ROCKAWAY TWP. Kenneth Paul Hanson died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at his home.

He was 75. Born in Hibernia, he was a lifelong resident. He was known by many as "Cannonball." Mr. Hanson was most recently an expediter for Mosler in Wayne, where he worked for 25 years. He retired in 1994.

Previously, he had worked for Reaction Motors, Denville. Mr. Hanson was a parishioner of St. Simon the Apostle Church, Rockaway Township. He was a an avid race car fan all his life.

He was predeceased by his brother, Harold, who died in 1957. He is survived by his sister, Barbara Tillyer; two nieces, Kathy Kraft of Milford, and Linda Lobb of Rockaway; two nephews, Joe Tillyer of Lake Mohawk and Mike Tillyer of Roxbury; a sister-in-law, Joyce Hanson and her son, Ricky of Lake Denmark; and 11 greatnieces and great-nephews. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 26, at 9:15 a.m. from the Whitham-Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Rockaway, to a 10 a.m.

Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated at St. Simon the Apostle Church, Rockaway Township. Interment will follow at Rockaway Presbyterian Cemetery. Visiting hours will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.

25. Mary Ann M. Rutzler 70, longtime Denville resident DENVILLE Mary Ann M. Rutzler died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at St.

Clare's She was 70. Born in Newark, she had lived in Kearny and Livingston before moving to the Cedar Lake section of Denville 37 years ago. Mrs. Rutzler had been a clerical worker for Mutual Insurance Newark. Most recently, she was employed as a dental hygienist in Convent Station.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Eugene F. Rutzler IV; her son, Eugene Rutzler her grandchildren, Eugene Rutzler VI, and Elyssa and Danielle Rutzler; and a sister, Catherine Sudal of Nutley. The funeral will be at 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, from the Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Denville, www.normandean.com, to a 9 a.m.

Liturgy of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Church, Denville. Entombment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery Mausoleum, East Hanover. Friends will be received 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.

25. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the American Lung Association of New Jersey would be appreciated. It all abent gout To subscribe, call Daily Record (800) 398-8990 MORRIS COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER dailurecord: John J. Westervelt 63, executive Forrest reported that firefighters arriving shortly after 8 a.m. found the fire "freely burning" throughout the house with the heaviest flames in the basement and kitchen.

Within an hour, most of the structure had collapsed into the basement, he said. The fire followed a Mardi Gras party that Biale described as the most wonderful she had ever attended. About 50 to 60 masked guests ate Cajun food and danced to the music of a DJ as other guests tossed beads at them from a float that had been set up in the living room, from which all the furniture has been removed. The evening ended about 3 a.m. with the host, dressed in a Henry VIII costume, and another guest, David Tobin of Rockville Center, serenading the other guests with "Camelot" and other show tunes around a grand piano, Biale said.

The next day, the host was left with nothing to wear but his bathrobe. Biale said that 20 minutes after she called 911 at 8:10 the flames were already through the roof, the house was beginning to collapse and an antique Cadillac in the garage had exploded. A car owned by the Harrises also exploded and melted, she said. Steinkopf described the house as a foot, multi-story structure 1 that was less than 15 years old. About 100 firefighters from seven towns responded, he said.

Because there were no hydrants in the vicinity, water was pumped from a nearby pond while three tankers shuttled water from another pond at Twin Lakes. foot clearance above the brook. The dam is a few hundred feet below the Hedden Park dam. Reconstruction of the two reservoirs on Reservoir Avenue in Randolph in the headwaters of Wallace Brook. The plan calls for removing sediment and bank improvements to increase the waterholding capacity, and other improvements to slow the release of water in heavy rainfall events.

Zabihach said the project would work this way: Reconstruction of the reservoirs, once part of the Dover water system, would help trap the runoff on the street, which would reduce the flow in Wallace Brook, which in turn would reduce the sediment in Hedden Pond. The flow from the pond in Hedden Park to Jackson Brook would be reduced and the scouring from runoff reduced as well, he said. Less sediment would make it to Hurd Park, where Jackson Brook has carved a wide, curving bed, and even less into the Rockaway River. Michael Daigle can be reached at (973) 267-7947 or at Knolls Fire Department has also been conservative in its spending, Harrington said. The Whippany Fire Department's budget for 2004, which is $787,000, a 30-percent decrease compared to the 2003 budget, was approved by a vote of 101-10.

"Whoever the author was used a lot of erroneous facts and did not have all the information together," Francioli said of the author of the flyer. "The desired result was there and the voters came out and defeated the budget based on what they thought were facts." An amended budget may negatively affect the services provided to the community, Harrington said in the letter. "Paid personnel may have to be laid off, upgrades to equipment and facilities may need to be postponed," Harrington said. It's too early to determine what changes in the budget need to be made, Francioli said on Monday. After the preliminary meeting, he said the committee would "be able to work in concert with the fire commissioners to make a determination as to what items in the budget are relevant to fire fighting and public safety and should not be touched, and what areas of the budget might be looked at with an eye to trim it." Minauti can be reached at (973) 428-6633 or MENDHAM John J.

Westervelt died Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at Morristown Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family after a brave battle with cancer. He was 63. He was born in the Bronx, N.Y., on June 28, 1940, to the late Charles and Elizabeth Westervelt. He graduated from C.W.

Post College in 1964 and earned his M.B.A. at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he graduated cum laude. Raised in Wantagh, N.Y., he lived in Chester for 29 years before moving to Mendham. Mr. Westervelt worked for and GPU Energy for most of his career.

He held many positions in human resources before retiring in 1997. as vice-president of corporate development. Throughout his career, he served on many business and community boards, including Rehabilitation Hospital, the Urban League of Morristown, INROADS of Northern New Jersey, the advisory board for the Center of Human Resources Management Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the New Jersey State Safety Council and the Utilities Employees Credit Union. He was a member of the Governor's Council on Education for the State of New Jersey from 1987 to 1990. He was an active member of the 200 Club of Morris County until his retirement in 1997.

Mr. Westervelt loved all kinds of music and was an avid guitar player. He most valued his role as a family man, and took much pride and joy in his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carol Ann (Noonan); his daughters, Jeanne Westervelt Rice of Mendham, Jill Ann Dreisbach of Bernardsville and Dorianne Taquinto of Chester; his grandchildren, Nicholas and Matthew Rice, and Patrick Dreisbach; his brothers, Charles Westervelt of North Carolina and Donald Westervelt of New York City; his sisters, Helen Manning of Long Island, N.Y., and Anne Graham of Albany, N.Y.; and his many close friends. A memorial Mass will be held Saturday, Feb.

28, at 11 a.m. at the Church of St. Joseph in Mendham. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Carol G.

Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Memorial Health Foundation, 100 Madison Morristown, N.J. 07920. Arrangements by William J. Leber Funeral Home, Chester, (908) 879-3090. Dorothy L.

Bogert 79, formerly of Boonton HOUSTON Dorothy L. (Thompson) Bogert died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at her home after a brief illness. She was 79. Born in Union, she had lived in Boonton for 13 years before moving to Texas in 1988.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Ralph F. Bogert, in March 1991. She is survived by her children, Bruce F. of Ocean Grove, Elizabeth A. Whitehead of Liberty, N.Y., Sandra B.

Coleman of Wantage, Dr. Thompson (Tod) Bogert and James V. Bogert, both of Houston, and Cynthia L. Brown of North Wales, Pa. Mrs.

Bogert is also survived by her seven grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to call at Lewis and Carey, Directors of Funerals, 312 W. Main Boonton, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7-9 p.m. Graveside services at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, will be private.

Lombardo; two daughters, Michelina Lombardo and Delia Lombardo, both of Morris Plains; one brother, Joseph of Monroe Township; two sisters, Jeanette of Florida and Mildred of Connecticut; and by many nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church, Cedar Knolls, Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Hours of visitation at the Doyle Funeral Home, 106 Maple Morristown, Monday from 5-7 p.m. and Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

Donations in John's memory to the Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey and VNA Hospice, 38 Elm Morristown, N.J. 07960. (23, 24) In Memoriam IN LOVING MEMORY OF Bradford Stone 1957-2003 It has been 1 year since you were called home to be with our Lord and your loved ones in Heaven. Not a day goes by that all the memories we had with you and of you are not remembered and always will be. We miss you very much, Mom and Dad Obituaries Special notices purchased by family and friends To place an obituary: Fax (973) 428-6666.