WESTWOOD—Mayor Ray Arroyo, the Borough Council, the Police Department, and the Volunteer Fire Department were among those remembering the late ex-Westwood fire chief James Mawdsley Sr. with love and respect following his passing, March 5, of natural causes.
Mawdsley, of the borough, was laid to rest on Thursday March 10 as, in the words of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department, “a father, a mentor, an ex-chief… a brother.”
The department shared a video of Mawdsley’s moving final call — Well done, Jim. You can rest easy now. We’ll take it from here —and recalled him as “an inspiration to all who knew him, and he loved the fire service.”
Known as Jim to the senior men and Mr. Mawdsley to the younger members, Mawdsley’s was recalled as “treating everyone with the utmost respect.”
The department added, “Jim was fire chief back in 1982, when the infamous Five Corners fires occurred. Even in his later years Jim stayed active in our relief association as president for many years. Thank you for all the memories and knowledge you have pasted on to us, you may rest now and be happy and free with your family and friends above. R.I.P.”
On behalf of Police Chief Michael R. Pontillo and all members of the Westwood Police Department, members expressed their heartfelt condolences to the Mawdsley family online.
They shared the video of Mawdsley’s final call, steeped in crisp tradition, from first radio call to final bell, and said that “it couldn’t be more spot on.”
“Ex-Chief Mawdsley served the Borough of Westwood with pride and distinction for 52 years. The memories Ex-Chief Mawdsley created through his service to others will never be forgotten. May we honor him by living the lessons he taught us and showing a love of public service.
We ran Mawdsley’s obituary in our March 14 print edition. It noted he was the son of the late Charles and Helen (née Tierney). He was born and raised in Washington Heights, N.Y.
It said his beloved wife, Peggy, predeceased him. He is survived by his son, James C. Mawdsley, daughter Susan DuBeck and her husband Christopher, and daughter Eileen Harrington and her husband Neal along with grandchildren Jimmy and Jennie Mawdsley, Sean and Ryan Harrington, and step-grandchildren Bryan and Ryan DuBeck.
It noted he is survived by his sisters, Catherine and Frances, along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Mawdsley was very active in Westwood, with 52 years of service to the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department, where he served in many roles including chief. He also served on various committees within the community.
In his professional life, he served in the National Guard and had a long career as an electrician with Local 3 IBEW. He capped his career as director of facilities with New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Interment was at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Touching words, donation for Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Mayor Ray Arroyo shared his feelings on Mawdsley’s passing in part in remarks the next day, March 11, at the Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps’s first annual dinner since the pandemic started in 2020.
He presented a $500 check to the WVAC on behalf of the governing body, raised among them privately, in memory of Mawdsley “and in grateful recognition of your steadfast volunteerism.”
Council president is Beth Dell. Members are Chris Montana, Rob Bicocchi, Erin Collins, Cheryl Hodges, and Anthony Greco.
Arroyo told the corps, gathered to honor its volunteers, reflect on the past year, and (it posted) trade work boots for dancing shoes, “I know the governing body and our residents have thanked you many times since for the dedication you have exhibited throughout our Covid threat.”
He said, “We know that you risked your health and the health of your loved ones at home by continuing to ride and service our community during the pandemic. When Westwood needed you the most.”
He added, “But this week’s events reminded me of one of your pre-pandemic calls. In January 2019 you were summoned to 671 Ackerman Ave. for a person who’d collapsed and was in extreme distress. That person was former Westwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim Mawdsley.”
He recalled, “Ambulance Corps Volunteers Matt Foley, my good neighbor Jerry Sheridan, and Alexandra Klukosky — working in tandem with Westwood police officers Sean Roche, Dean McCarrol, Keith Bott, and Brian Donaghy — answered that call and through their efforts, Jim was returned from death to life. He was returned to Peg and Jimmy and Susan for a time, perhaps, when they needed him the most.”
Arroyo said, “When Jim recovered, he was adamant about wanting to publicly thank the first responders who’d saved his life. I gave him that opportunity at the borough’s 2020 reorganization, when I was installed as mayor.”
(See “Westwood Council reorganizes for a busy all-hands-on-deck 2020,” Pascack Press, Jan. 14, 2020.)
And, he said, “What Westwood Ambulance Corps did for him meant so much to Jim. What you did really mattered. Jim was a 52-year WVFD member, a former chief, husband, father, and grandfather. Jim’s life mattered to his family — and through his volunteer service, to everyone in this room.”
The mayor said, “Every member of the Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps might one day mean the difference between life and death for one of our people. And so every single one of you matters.”
He added, “We lost Jim this past week, but I am sure he was extremely thankful for the extra time with us that you gave him.”