P/C Robert W. Feeney, AP

Robert W. Feeney, 88, of Wayne, New Jersey and formerly of Hawthorne, New Jersey, passed away on 21 Jan. 2015.

Beloved husband of Gloria P. Feeney and predeceased by Helen G. Feeney, he is survived by his sons Robert D. Feeney and wife Mary of Scituate, Massachusetts; and David B. Feeney and wife Lynne of Ho Ho Kus, New Jersey; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Bob was a partner in the family funeral business, John J. Feeney and Sons Funeral Home in Ridgewood and Paterson, New Jersey. He was born and raised in Paterson and graduated from Paterson State Teachers College and McAllister School of Embalming.

A U.S. Naval Air Force veteran of World War II, he was an aviation ordnanceman and top turret gunner aboard Martin PBM Mariner patrol bombers in the Pacific Theater.

Bob was a member and past president of the Hawthorne Rotary Club and a past president and charter member of the Hawthorne Blood Association. Bob was a charter member of the St. Anthony Council #5920 Knights of Columbus and of the B.P.O.E Wayne Elks, past president of Paterson Junior Chamber of Commerce and a member of Forward Paterson Movement.

Bob was a 35-year member of the Catholic Bowling League, bowling for St. Therese’s; a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; a member of Bernard Armitage Post #360 American Legion, VFW Post #1593 of Hawthorne; and a member of High Mountain Golf Club in Franklin Lakes. He was a member of Passaic County Grand Jurors Association, where he served as deputy foreman. A very active young man, Bob was a Charter Member of the World Champion Hawthorne Caballeros Drum & Bugle Corps., and played semi-professional football for the Hawthorne Cardinals in the New Jersey Professional Football League in the late 1940s.

Bob and his family enjoyed boating at their vacation home in Chatham, Massachusetts, where he taught his sons and neighborhood children the basics of safe boating, boat handling and sailing.  He owned and maintained a beautiful Lyman Islander 21-foot Runabout as well as a variety of sailboats in Chatham.

Bob joined the United States Power Squadrons in 1961, ultimately becoming commander of the Saddle River Power Squadron in North Jersey.  He earned 29 merit marks and the grade of AP.  In 1978, he achieved Educational Proficiency.  He served as chaplain at Saddle River and chair of the Public Relations Committee for many years.