In Memoriam

We mourn the loss of these dear friends, but celebrate their lives.

 
James Gordon Guenther, 94, of Wayne, NJ died December 20, 2013. Beloved husband of Dorothy (nee Roman) of Wayne; Loving father of Jon Guenther of Budd Lake, NJ; Jeff Guenther of Hopatcong, NJ; Greg Guenther of Franklin, NC and Gail Mazer of Montville, NJ; dear grandfather of six and great-grandfather of six. Gordon graduated from Staunton Military Academy; Phoenix Art Institute and Fairleigh Dickinson University. He was the owner of Prestige Truck Sales in Elizabeth, NJ. He also served in the Army Air Corp in WW II serving in New Zealand. "Gordo" belonged to the very active New Jersey Live Steamers and the Garden State Truck Club. He was a very talented artist and passionate about paintings, art, Live Steam Trains of all sizes, the ocean, lake, sail boats, heavy duty trucks, weekend BBQs with friends and family. Donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 in his memory would be appreciated. A Message from Gordon’s daughter, D. Gail Mazer: “I just wanted to let you know that our Dad, Dot's husband, passed away at 2:20 a.m. Thursday morning, 12/20/13, at home, after 5 days in the hospital. He was courageous beyond words, never complaining, and trying to stay here for my Mom over his last years. This last week his appetite started to fail for everything except his favorite breakfast, Wheatena, and coffee ice cream. Gordon was in the Army Air Corp in WW II in New Zealand for 4 years as an Aircraft Mechanic, just before they sent him back home, he contracted malaria there. While in the hospital he managed to get some basic water color supplies and painted brilliant colorful pictures of the aboriginal type natives he saw there. which we still have in his portfolio. I remember him telling us that they could track a man 2 weeks after he had been through an area, even after rain and wind. Gordon was extremely patriotic, and loved this country wholeheartedly. “Gordo" as he was called by some, belonged to the very active New Jersey Live Steamers and the Garden State Truck Club (disbanded years ago) and was an active member of both. He loved his Train and Truck friends so very much! Probably more than anything else, Dad loved his trains and his time with his friends at the Live Steamers, especially after he retired. All his grandchildren rode on the "big train" with Grandpa and LOVED IT. Gordon was a very talented artist and passionate about paintings, art, Live Steam Trains of all sizes, the water (lake or ocean), sail boats, heavy duty trucks, weekend BBQs with friends and family, (wonderful family reunions we all remember so well), ethnic foods from every country, his friends and family. In fact, you couldn't go to the airport with him anywhere and not have someone shout out "HEY, GORDON!!!" It seemed that no matter where you were, someone knew Dad. After prep school at Staunton Military Academy in VA, he took his Post Graduate for his last year, at Ridgewood High School (1937), Fairliegh Dickinson College, and Phoenix Art Institute in NY, his Military Service, Gordon started out as a very talented Commercial Artist in NYC at an Advertising agency, then with Bob Jackel in an agency they called Guenther/Jackel and also Chessmate Marketing. Times were tough back then and Gordon & Dot had children, so he went to work for Fette Ford in Clifton selling used cars, then light trucks then specializing in Heavy Duty Trucks. Gordon moved on to being a manager at Brockway Trucks in Cortland, NY and afterwards owned his own Heavy Truck Dealership called Prestige Truck in Elizabeth. Gordon had an impeccable reputation for honesty and good value. Many was the time that Dad would pick Gail up from the train station in Newark, visiting from College and stop to check out a trade in on the way home. Jeff and Greg were also involved with Dad's work and all of us were touched in some way by Gordon's truck family. His son, Jon carries on the tradition at Jon's company, Quality Truck Sales in Elizabeth, NJ.  Gordon was married to our Mom, Dorothy Roman for almost 68 years. They met when Dot's mother asked her to take some tomatoes from Grandpa Roman's garden across the street to Mrs. Guenther's house. Dad answered the door. The rest is history. Over the years, Gordon and Dot traveled to many of our United States and many countries of the world while Dot was competing and winning International Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in team and solo Synchronized Swimming Competitions with her Aquacons Club, based out of the Ridgewood "Y" on Chestnut Street in Ridgewood, NJ. Dot also belonged to the Aquamasters and swam with them as well. She is looking forward to returning to the pool and her beloved swimming soon. Besides Dot, Gail Mazer, Jon Guenther (and Alixanne), Jeff Guenther (and Annmarie) and Greg Guenther (and Erica), Gordon also leaves behind 6 Grandchildren; Jennifer Brody-Accetta, Rudy Guenther, David Mazer, Brian Mazer, Grant Guenther, and Julia Guenther, and 6 Great Grandchildren; Courtney, James, Leo, Gregory, and Richard Guenther, and Isabella Mazer. If you wish to, you can donate to The Wounded Warrior Project, or The Veterans of Foreign Wars in Dad's name. Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box # 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675 wwwDOTwoundedwarriorprojectDOTorg or wwwDOTvfwDOTcom ... Love and God's Blessings to all of you. Sincerely, Dorothy, Gail, Jon, Jeff, and Greg And this is the message we received from Live Steamer Bruce Vaupel, Gordon Guenther’s nephew: "You may know that my uncle had been undergoing dialysis for nearly three years to the best of my knowledge.  He also had other medical problems and yesterday he had just returned home after being in the hospital a few days being treated for pneumonia.   I last visited Gordon the week before Thanksgiving and brought him some train pictures and a drop bottom Fn3 gondola that I had been working on.  He always had a great smile when I showed him any railroad-related material these past years when he was primarily at home. As you know the NJLS had been a big source of happiness for him over the years and I'll never forget, as will other friends of his in the club, the pride he had in his Pennsy K4." Bruce Vaupel    

  

Theodore (Ted) Dillenkofer, Sr, a resident of Parsippany Troy Hills, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2014. Born in Jersey City, NJ, he was an Electronics Engineer who started out his career with Sweda Co. He and his wife Dina were members of the Morris Amateur Radio Club. Theodore also enjoyed membership with the Live Steamers Club dealing with steam trains. Theodore was a jazz enthusiast, builder of miniature steam engines, "ham" operator, and in his early years, a great water skier.  He was predeceased by his parents Oswald and Elsa (nee Hartung) Dillenkofer of Chester, a sister Anita DeVore of Chester, and a brother Henry of Florida. He leaves behind his wife Dina (ne Depetro) after 58 ½ years of marriage. Together they were proud parents of Thodore G. Dillekofer, Jr. and his fiancé Ann Tomney, Carl and his wife Faith, Lisa Malleo, Denise and her husband Cliff Hendrickson, and Glenn. His beloved grandchildren are Michael, Daniel, and Christina Malleo, Erik, Adam, and the late Bryan Hendrickson, and Nicole, Mark, Annalise, and Olivia Dillenkofer. He was also survived by dear cousins and friends and will be deeply missed. Donations be made to the Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance Squad, Po Box 6024, Parsippany, NJ 07054.




























Donald A. Davis Sr., 83, died October 1, 2014. Don was born in Milford, CT and formerly of New Brunswick before moving to Bridgewater in 1957. Don was employed as an Electrical Engineer for Union Carbide for over 45 years, retiring in 2001. He was a member of NJ Live Steamers, Bound Brook Presbyterian Railroad, Bee Sharps Square Dancing and the Bradley Gardens Volunteer Fire Co. and the Community Church in the Bradley Gardens section of Bridgewater, NJ.

Don is predeceased by his wife, Lillian in 2011, and son, Fred in 2006. Surviving are sons, Donald A. Davis Jr. and his wife Lore, Kenneth A. and his wife Marie; sister, Marilyn Bodo; 4 grandchildren, Lisa, Sandra, William and Bryan; and great-grandson, Theodore.

Donations may be made to NJ Live Steamers, PO Box 205, Liberty Corner, NJ 07938.


We found several photos of Don having fun with his friends at NJLS,

especially with his best friend, his son, Don Davis, Jr. (who is NJLS VP/Treasurer), so you may -

- click here for the memorial album of Don Davis, Sr. at New Jersey Live Seamers.































Lawrence J. Seccafico, of Greenwood Lake, passed away on April 13, 2014 at Good Samaritan Hospital, Suffern.  He was 73 years old.  Born on September 16, 1940 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Lawrence A. and Anna (Papa) Seccafico.  Lawrence was married to Theresa B. (Foresta) Seccafico for 51 years.  He was retired as a Mechanic with NYC Transit Authority, Brooklyn.  He was a member of Holy Rosary RC Church in Greenwood Lake, a member of the Elks Lodge No. 2067 in Greenwood Lake, and he volunteered with the Greenwood Lake Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus.  Larry was an avid model train collector and a member of the New Jersey Live Steamers.  He was the beloved husband of Theresa; the loving brother of Frances Seccafico and brother-in-law of Arthur Foresta and his wife Alina; the loving father of Christopher, Lawrence and Kari Seccafico; and the wonderful grandfather of Adam, Angela, Stephen, Alec, Nicholas and Christopher.  He is also survived by many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.  A Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, April 16th at Holy Rosary RC Church.  Memorial donations may be made to Holy Rosary Church, 41 Windermere Ave., Greenwood Lake, NY 10925.  At the time of funeral service we commemorated and reflected on the life of Lawrence J. Seccafico.  In the days, weeks and months ahead it will be a comfort to the family of Lawrence J. Seccafico to continue to remember a life well lived.”



John P. Muldowney, age 91 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died Thursday, January 30, 2014, in Hunterdon Care Center, Raritan Township, NJ.  Born in Basking Ridge, NJ, May 6, 1922, son of the late James C. and Naomi Passmore Muldowney, he had resided most of his life in Basking Ridge, NJ, until moving to East Amwell Township, NJ, in 1979.  John worked as Master Plumber and operated Basking Ridge Plumbing and Heating until 1976. He was formerly a Plumbing Inspector for the Municipal Townships of Bernards, Hillsborough, Montgomery  and East Amwell until retiring in 1984. John was also involed with the New Jersey State Plumbing Inspectors Association serving terms and President and Secretary.  He was a US Army veteran of World War 2 serving as a Combat Photographer with the Army Air Force stationed in Italy with the Mediterranean Air Transport Service (MATS) and was discharged with the rank of Sergeant. John was a member of the Princeton Elks Lodge; was a former member of the Hillsborough Rotary Club, and was a member of the New Jersey Live Steamers (builders of miniature locomotives).  John through his life continued to work with photography. He also was a true craftsman and conveyed this through working in both wood and metal. He built numerous pieces of furniture including several grandfathers clocks and he also built a miniature operating steam locomotive that he enjoyed operating with his sons. Into retirement he had his knees replaced and took up golf.  His wife of sixty years, Alvina Muldowney, died in 2001.  Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald and Barbara Muldowney of Stockton, NJ, and Keith and Laurel Muldowney of Ringoes, NJ, and four grandchildren, Michael, Laura, Kristen and Rebecca Muldowney.  Donations may be sent to the National Railway Historical Society, 100 North 20th St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA  19103-1462.  Please designate any donations to be for the Railcamp Program.  Donations may also be made in John’s name to a Memorial Fund with the New Jersey Live Steamers, PO Box 205, Liberty Corner, NJ 07938.

John Henry Bortz Sr., age 94, passed away on Saturday, September 14th, 2013 in Huntingdon Valley, PA. John was the devoted husband of the late Thelma E. Bortz. They were happily married for over 68 years. He worked for Nabisco for 26 years, and was actually retired from Nabisco for more years than he worked there. John was the beloved father of Joanne (husband Bill) Kerr, John H. Jr., Barbara, Richard A. (wife Maria), and David S. (wife Corale) Bortz. He will be sadly missed by his grandchildren: Robin Micklus, Brian Kerr, Ashley Bortz, David Bortz, Jr., Lauren Zezinski and Michael Peljae, his great grandchildren, Calum and Rowan Micklus, and by all who knew him. John had a lifelong love of railroading. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pa., near many of the Reading RR’s facilities where he developed a love of steam trains. That love motivated him to build a large ‘S’ scale layout in his basement, which featured over 600 feet of hand laid track work, trestles, mountains, cities, an iron ore dock,roundhouse and freight yard. John was a very well known ‘S’ scaler, winning Best in Show, 1st place Steam locomotives, 1st place freight cars and 1st place in locomotive performance contest awards at National Model RR Association (NMRA) conventions across the country. In ‘S’ scale, he built over 30 custom brass locomotives and literally hundreds of pieces of rolling stock. Along with modeling, John was a very active volunteer on the New Hope & Ivyland Steam RR during the 1970’s, working his way up from Brakeman to Conductor to Fireman and, ultimately, to Locomotive Engineer. John became involved in Live Steam by becoming a member of the New Jersey Live Steamers in 1975. Closer to home, John assisted with the construction of the Deep Run Central RR of Paul B. Culp, driving a majority of the 50,000 rivets within their large deck girder bridge, and assembling many of the switches that exist on that railroad today. John became a member of Pennsylvania Live Steamers in 1987 and has been involved in the construction and development of the club since that time. He is best known at PLS for building his favorite locomotive, the #757 Lima Berkshire and many of the cars on the long freight trains he pulled behind it. John was very proud to be a member of the Pennsylvania Live Steamers and always enjoyed meets and run days at “the club”. My favorite memories of him will be of him running at PLS, charging up the hill on “The Berk” (#757) with 25 cars in tow, popping the safety valves at the crest of the grade, and sitting back letting momentum carry the train past the crossing and downgrade. High Greens, good coal and clear track forever, Pop. We will miss you. David Bortz Memorial contributions may be made in John’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box # 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675 wwwDOTwoundedwarriorprojectDOTorg