Former Captain of Matawan Fire Police and Midway Firefighter Dies at 64

Former Captain of the Matawan Fire Police and long time member of Midway Hose Company Number 2 of the Matawan Borough Fire Department Edward Wyckoff died at his home on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Wyckoff, 64, was born in Neptune on Feb. 4, 1947 to Harry "Connie" Wyckoff and Elizabeth Wyckoff. He moved to Matawan as a child, and graduated Matawan Regional High School in 1966. After high school, Wyckoff joined the United States Military for three years and served with honor and distinction as a Private 1-E. Wyckoff spent one year in Vietnam from Jan. 1968 to Jan. 1969 and was decorated with the Over Seas Bar, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

In 1971, Wyckoff joined the Matawan Borough Fire Department. He completed Fire College and Firefighter Certification in 1978 and held First Assistant Engineer with Midway Hose Company Number 2. He continued his dedication to helping others by joining the Matawan Borough Fire Police, where he served as a captain.

In more recent years, Wyckoff was a frequent visitor of . Victoria Van Jura can't remember a day that Wyckoff didn't eat breakfast or lunch at her counter without calling her to say he wouldn't be in.

"Since I've been in business he's been coming here. He was my first customer in 1999," Van Juran said. "Orange juice, Frosted Flakes and coffee. Came in every morning and every lunch. When we were open for dinner, he came in for that too."

Van Juran recalls Wyckoff as a quiet man who enjoyed watching soap operas and calling out the answers to "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."

"When he got dressed up in his uniform, I would always take a picture with him. He got a kick out of that," Van Jura said.

Now, a photo of Wyckoff sitting at her counter hangs on the refrigerator, across from the stool Wyckoff so often brightened.

Wyckoff is predeceased by his parents, Harry "Connie" and Elizabeth Wyckoff. Surviving is his sister, Barbara and her husband Ron Schott of Oak Ridge, NC; his two nieces, Wendy Zuber and Lori Goldy; his grand-nieces, Maren and Lexi and a grand-nephew, Colton.

A visitation will be held at the Bedle Funeral Home, 212 Main Street, Matawan, NJ 07747 on Friday, Dec. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. A service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow at Holmdel Cemetery and Mausoleum in Holmdel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to St. Barnabas Burn Unit, 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039 or The Disabled American Veterans, Attention: Gift Processing, PO Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.

Editor's Note: Photos from Edward Wyckoff's service may be viewed .