Bergen County Doctor Dies At 99: 'I Remember Him Coming To My Home'

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Dr. Frank Ferraro of River Vale was born before penicillin was in heavy use, before vaccines for polio and measles. He saw a lot as a family doctor, the first doctor in River Vale. He passed away late last month, unleashing a recent flurry of memories from residents.

Ferraro — who died on Dec. 20 at 99 — was one of the first doctors at Pascack Valley Hospital when it opened in 1959, his obituary said. He practiced for 56 years.

Last week, residents in a River Vale Facebook group said they remembered him coming to their home, and one said he'd been delivered by the doctor.

"I can remember him coming to my home when I was a very small child," wrote a woman. "He was my doctor my whole life up until after I had my first child. He was my baby’s doctor too."

"Dr. Ferraro was our family doctor from 1965 until my parents moved from River Vale in 2002," wrote another. "He was...a credit to his craft."

Ferraro was married to his wife, Ida, for 75 years, until she passed away five months before he did, in July, at age 98.

He also helped found the River Vale Junior Football Association in 1973, which still exists. Read more in his obit here.