Barrie Werfel

Barrie Werfel, 73, of Rockaway died Sept. 19, 2019. He was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, and came to New Jersey at the age of three months. He lived in Roseland for 42 years before moving to Rockaway.

Mr. Werfel started his career working in the family business at Hercules Seating Co. in New York City and Colonial Office Furniture Company in Newark. He and his wife Celeste opened Barrie’s Place in Roseland in 1976. He later worked for Burger King franchises for many years before becoming a limousine driver for several companies as well as driving residents in his community.

He attended Hofstra University, where he became a member of the Pershing Rifles Military Fraternity, before transferring to Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he received his associate’s degree.

He volunteered extensively in the community. At 19 he started the first little league football team in Roseland and coached for 25 years; he was one of the founders of the West Essex Football League. He served on Roseland’s Board of Adjustment and served as chair of the Roseland Centennial committee, orchestrating several town-wide events and a parade. He also assisted with the celebration of the Roseland Volunteer Fire Department’s centennial celebration.

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He extended his volunteerism as an extremely active member of Kiwanis in the West Essex area. He became active as an adviser to the West Essex High School Key Club and became a member of the Kiwanis Committee on Key Club. In 1996 he became governor of the NJ District of Kiwanis and in 1998 assumed the position as Key Club District Administrator.

He was a three-year member of his Fox Hills community’s board of directors and was serving as the vice president.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years; two sons, Larry (Carol) of Denville and Michael (Iryna) of Washington Township; his daughter, Katy (Michael Boettinger) of Roseland; and five grandchildren.

Services were held Sept. 22 with arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union. Memorial contributions may be made to NJ Kiwanis Foundation, Summit.