Longtime Mahwah Teacher And Former Fire Chief Dies

MAHWAH, NJ — A former Mahwah teacher and volunteer fireman — who had served for a time as fire chief — died last week at 87.

Kenneth Werring was an elementary school teacher for over 30 years in Mahwah, finishing his teaching career at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School, his obituary says. He had also taught at Holy Cross Lutheran School.

Werring was also a volunteer fireman at Company 1.

Mahwah's Fire Department posted on social media that in the mid-1970s, a house fire claimed the lives of two parents. Their children survived. A child told the Fire Department, "Mr. Werring taught us to feel the door first. If it's hot, crawl to a window to escape."

"That lesson saved their lives," the department wrote.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Feb. 9. For more information, read his obituary here.