Historical Museum Founder Fritz Behnke Dies

Fritz Behnke, who was instrumental in opening the , died Thursday morning.

Behnke had been ill for some time, and was with family when he died.

Behnke's family has lived in Paramus since 1886. He was born in 1919, before the Borough was even incorporated in 1922.

His family owned a farm on the east side of town before its was sold in 1951. He founded on Route 17 south with his brothers.

After retiring, Behnke dedicated himself to chronicling the history of Paramus. He published a book, "Paramus: The Way We Were, 1922 to 1960" in 1997.

The museum will be closed Sunday. A wake is scheduled for Sunday at . Check back with Paramus Patch for an exact time.