Richard J. A. Boresen of Skillman Terrace, Saddle Brook died Wednesday, February 12, 2014. He was 98.
Mr. Boresen contributed to this country throughout his life as a sheet metal worker during and after World War II, and as a Chore Service volunteer after he retired. Among his greatest joys were singing, dancing, community service, collecting trains and watching football. He will be greatly missed by the many lives he touched.
Mr. Boresen was a resident of Saddle Brook for 65 years. He was born in Jersey City and spent his early years dancing to the tunes of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and Frank Sinatra. In 1941, he married Elizabeth (nee Malmbach) Boresen.
As sheet metal worker, Mr. Boresen served the United Sates of America during World War II by building battleships such as the U.S.S. General John Pope and the U.S.S. Plunkett DD431. After the war, Mr. Boresen continued his career with Mars Metal Products and eventually retired from Clifton Metal Products in 1984.
Mr. Boresen’s passions lay in singing, dancing and service to his community. He traveled to Japan with his wife to showcase American square dancing through the Kuntry Kusins dance group. He was a member of several vocal groups, including a barber shop quartet. A proud member of the Masons, Mr. Boresen celebrated his 70th anniversary as Master Mason with the Secaucus Hudson Lodge in 2012.
Mr. Boresen enjoyed repairing homes for seniors through the Chore Service of Bergen County for nearly 20 years. He also volunteered his time at the Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation gift shop.
Mr. Boresen was honored many times over for his community service. In 2003 he was recognized with the president’s Daily Point of Light Award. In 2008 he received The President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award for dedicating more than 4,000 hours of service to others. Mr. Boresen received the Triumph of the Human Spirit Dedicated Volunteer Service Award from Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation in 2000. Mr. Boresen was very proud of the snack stand built at the Ridgefield Park during his presidency of the Ridgefield Park Rotary Club in 1971-1972.
Mr. Boresen is survived by Mrs. Boresen; his daughter Karen Newquist and her husband Jim, of Flanders; his grandson Kenneth Newquist of Pennsylvania, and his granddaughter Kristen Valenti of New Hampshire and their spouses; and five great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were handled by the Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Online condolences may be given at www.cochranfuneral.com. A memorial service will be held for Mr. Boresen at the Good Shepherd Church Lutheran Church, 233 South Highwood Avenue, Glen Rock, NJ, on May 10, 2014, at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Chore Service, www.bergenvolunteers.org.