North Caldwell Man Passes Away, Gets Touching Sendoff (VIDEO)

NORTH CALDWELL, NJ — North Caldwell owes a lot to Henry Forstenhausler.

The Valor Award-winning ex-firefighter – who passed away on Nov. 21 at the age of 88 - was a member of the North Caldwell Special Police for 28 years, worked for the North Caldwell Court Clerk’s Office, was a founding parishioner of Notre Dame Church where he served as an usher, a member of the North Caldwell Senior Citizens, the North Caldwell Centennial Committee and an assistant scoutmaster with the North Caldwell Boy Scouts Troop 1.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Caldwells Facebook page here.

Born in Scotch Plains, Forstenhausler lived in Linden and Bloomfield before moving to North Caldwell in 1958. Active in his community, Forstenhausler was a recipient of the 200 Club Valor Award for helping to save the occupants of a burning car, his obituary states.

• See related article: North Caldwell Police Officers, Firefighters Commended

The North Caldwell Fire Department held a touching memorial service for Forstenhausler on Saturday.

According to Forstenhausler’s obituary:

“He worked at General Motors and in construction and Air Defense before retiring from the Department of Defense in West Orange. A proud member of the New Jersey National Guard for over 42 years, which included 13 years in the Air Defense, Mr. Forstenhausler retired as a Master Sergeant in 1989. He was a life member of the NJ NCO Association, a member of the 117th Association in Westfield and the 42nd DISCOM Alumni Association. He was also awarded the Samuel Sharpe Medal.

“He later worked for the Department of Motor of Vehicles in Morristown and the North Caldwell Court Clerk.

“Active in his community, he was a recipient of the 200 Club Valor Award for helping to save the occupants of a burning car. Mr. Forstenhausler was a member of the North Caldwell Special Police for 28 years and the North Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department for 39 years, where he was a life member and served as president. He was also a life member of the New Jersey Firemen’s Association and New Jersey State Exempt Firemen’s Association.

“He was a founding parishioner of Notre Dame Church where he served as an usher, a member of the North Caldwell Senior Citizens, the North Caldwell Centennial Committee, and an Assistant Scout Master of the North Caldwell Boy Scouts Troop 1.

“Mr. Forstenhausler was a member of the American Rose Society, Garden State Rose Club and the North Jersey Rose Society. As a member of the American Rose Society, he received the Silver Honor Medal of the Penn-Jersey District in 2002 and the Bronze Medal from the North Jersey Rose Society in 2000.

“The beloved husband of 62 years to Marion (nee Grimm), he was the loving father of Mark Forstenhausler and his wife, Susan, and Matt Forstenhausler and his wife, Diana, and cherished grandfather of Lauren, Alex and Emma. He was predeceased by his dear siblings, George and John Forstenhausler, Elizabeth Danko and Matilda Allen.

“In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or at www.alz.org, would be appreciated.”

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to [email protected]

Photo: ippolitofuneralhomes.com