Fire Department Honors Former Fire Chief Memory with Tree Dedication

Members of the volunteer fire department honored one of their own this weekend as they planted a tree in in memory of former fire chief James A. Murray who served the departmentfrom 1931 to 1933.

Murray’s daughter Marcella Deleeuw, a lifelong resident of Hasbrouck Heights who died at the end of 2009, left a donation to the upon bequest.  She wanted to leave something behind for the fire department and also to keep her father’s memory alive by having a tree planted in his honor.

Peter Banta, who is the executor of Deleeuw’s will, attended the dedicated ceremony Sunday morning on behalf of the surviving family who were unable to be in attendance as all are locate out of state.

Banta told the volunteers that she loved Hasbrouck Heights and in fact lived in the same garden apartment on the Boulevard since 1948 until she died. Deleeuw was a widow and had no children of her own but is survived by  many nieces and nephews who Banta said were very pleased that James A. Murray will be remembered in this way.

Richard Giarratana, first assistant fire chief, told Banta that in addition to tree planting and plaque which lies beneath, they will also add a brick in the memory James. A. Murray to the Firemen’s Memorial.

Giarratana said the donation will go towards a good cause in keep firefighters and the computer safe as it will be included in the department’s equipment fund to be used towards items that a

Giarratana said the donation will surely be used for a good cause as it will be put towards the department’s fund for equipment which keeps firefighters and the community safe.