Center Of Secaucus Will Be Shut Down For 4.5 Hours Thursday For Former Fire Chief's Funeral

SECAUCUS, NJ — Harold Bubb, 76, is a disabled U.S. military veteran who lives in Secaucus. He has a doctor's appointment at 11 a.m. Thursday in Hackensack.

Except he has no idea how he'll get out of Secaucus to get there.

That's because the town and police department are effectively shutting down the center of town for four and a half hours Thursday morning. This is to accommodate the large crowds and traffic that are expected for funeral services for Bryan Schoch, a battalion chief for the Jersey City Fire Department and former Secaucus Fire Chief who died suddenly last Friday.

One of the town's most highly used roads — Paterson Plank Road in between Plaza Center and County Avenue — will be closed to traffic. Rt. 3 access to Plaza Center — the only shopping center in Secaucus — will be closed for all of Thursday morning.

And NJ Transit will not be picking people up at the bus stop in front of Mack Memorial Home, near the Catholic church. People who need the bus Thursday morning will be told they have to walk to the 5th Street bus stop, nine blocks away.

Bubb lives on 2nd Avenue. His street is between Cedar Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue, both of which will be entirely closed to traffic Thursday morning.

"I was actually up at 1 a.m. last night looking at maps to see how I could get to my doctor's appointment," he told Patch Wednesday afternoon. "I called the Secaucus Police Traffic Bureau and they told me I could move my car to a street that's not closed."

"Well, I have a handicap sticker on my car," he continued, and motioned to his car parked in his driveway. "I cannot walk long distances due to my back disability. I told them this. If I move my car several blocks away to a street that's not closed, I cannot physically walk there."

"It's really, really ridiculous," said one woman who lives on Roosevelt Avenue, who did not want her name used because "Mayor Mike does a lot for me," referring to Gonnelli.

All of Roosevelt Avenue will be closed to traffic. Residents are told they cannot park on the street and they have to move their cars.

"What if you have to get to work, what if you have kids? Four and a half hours to have streets closed is really excessive," she said.

At the time of his death, Schoch worked as a battalion chief for the Jersey City Fire Department. He was chief of the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department for one year, from 2015-2016.

Visitation for Schoch is currently being held from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception. His funeral mass will be held at 10:45 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception church.

Patch asked Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller, Mayor Gonnelli and town administrator Gary Jeffas why the streets and the center of town need to be closed for more than four hours on Thursday.

"We expect a large turnout for his funeral with many fire and emergency vehicles we will need to accommodate," said Jeffas.

"The streets will be closed to allow for the safety crowds of people and first responders that will be gathering to honor Chief Schoch," replied Miller. "Furthermore, my Traffic Bureau has fielded numerous calls from residents today and provided them all with alternative routes and all seemed to be understanding, appreciative and thankful."

Both Miller and Jeffas praised Schoch for his service to the town of Secaucus.

"Alternate routes have been planned to go around the closures and adequate notice has been posted for residents to make alternate travel arrangements," continued Miller. "Chief Schoch served this community as a volunteer and served with distinction and honor. So a minor inconvenience of someone's travel routes to thank this selfless public servant and celebrate his life I feel is appropriate and warranted."

"Byran Schoch was a loved and well-respected person who touched many lives," said Jeffas. "Accordingly, we expect many of his brother firefighters, friends and family to come out for his funeral. The town thanks Bryan for his service to our community and beyond and we are pleased to be able to celebrate his life in this way."

Bubb is still hoping he can get to his doctor's appointment Thursday morning.

He said he just happened to bump into a Secaucus Police officer in the Plaza Center parking lot Wednesday afternoon and explained his plight to him. The officer told him if he got into his car and told the officers that he needed to get out of town for a medical appointment, that an officer would likely let him past.

"So, that's what I'm going for tomorrow morning," he grinned. "Just put on my U.S. Marines hat and hope for the best. I truly want this man honored and to be paid his due respects. But they are really tying the town up in knots for this."