Game Remembers Lost Mahwah Firefighter

For the fifth consecutive year, Mahwah firefighters and teachers will face off in a basketball game to raise funds for a scholarship in honor of Patrick Roe, a volunteer in Co. 2 who tragically died in 2005.

For the past six years, Mahwah’s Co. 2 has given out $500 scholarships to Mahwah students in Roe’s honor. Five years ago, the fire company developed the basketball game as the main fundraiser for the scholarship. Roe’s mother Jean says the family-friendly event reflects her son’s fun-loving, caring nature.

“Patrick was his friends, his family, and the firehouse. That’s really what he was all about,” Jean Roe said.

Roe said that even she was surprised at the big impact her son made on the community in his short 24 years. 

“When Patrick died, we asked that donations be made to the firehouse in lieu of flowers. The amount of support we got was incredible. The fire department decided the best thing to do with all the money was create a scholarship fund,” Roe said.

“So many of his friends still come to the game every year; they still come to the house to keep us a part of their lives. When I read the nice things people write and remember about Patrick, I think ‘who was this kid?’ He really was so amazing and touched so many people’s lives in such a short amount of time."

Patrick Roe came from a family very involved in public service to the township. His father, Raymond, was a fire inspector, and now serves as the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Director. His brother, Michael, is a police dispatcher.

“When Patrick died, it was like the whole town stopped. Flags were flown at half-mast. You could really see the impact he had on Mahwah,” Jean Roe said. 

Patrick Roe died March 6, 2005. He was struck by a train while walking from the Mahwah train station. According to his mother, Roe was on his way home from a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hoboken. Though no one is positive why Patrick Roe was walking where he was that night, Jean Roe said it is possible that he was walking to Roxanne’s Restaurant to meet up with friends.

“It is hard to have an empty chair at the dinner table. It is hard for all of us to deal with,” Jean said.

“He was a great kid who had a promising life ahead of him. Now, all we can do is commemorate what he was able to do while he was here."

That is exactly what Friday night’s basketball game is designed to do. Especially now, Jean said, that so many of the kids Patrick grew up with are teachers in the Mahwah school system, and firefighters.

Residents who want to come to this family event should go to Ramapo Ridge Middle School this Friday, May 20, at 6:45 p.m. The game starts at 7 p.m. While tickets are available in advance at the Co. 2 firehouse on Island Road, they can be purchased at the door.

Contributions can be sent to The Patrick Roe Scholarship Fund, C/O Mahwah Fire Co. 2, 60 Island Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430.

“It really is a great Friday night,” Jean said.