MONTVALE—In recognition of her admirable and lengthy public service, and in tribute of a life well lived, the governing body on Jan. 3 resolved that the Montvale Free Public Library shall bear the honorary name Rose S. Curry, who passed Jan. 1.
Curry, of Montvale, “made her final curtain call after heroically fighting chronic illness, and exited, stage-left, on New Year’s morning, leaving her audience clamoring for more. Her 68-year- run leaves so many wonderful memories from cherished friendships and occasions,” her obituary reads in part.
A native of San Francisco, Curry, née Scudder, moved to the Borough of Montvale and served the borough for decades, reads the resolution, adopted Nov. 30, 2021.
In 2004 Curry created the position of Adult Program Coordinator at the Montvale Public Library, a position she later served in at the Oakland Public Library as well.
The resolution said the well-being of the Montvale Public Library has always been of paramount importance to Curry and that she frequently participated in and championed events and services there.
She served as the mayor’s representative on the Montvale Library Board of Trustees in 2021, and was elected to the Borough Council in 2012. She was reelected two more times, serving on the Borough Council for 10 years.
Curry served on the Montvale PTO, including as president and vice president, 1990–2004.
And she worked in Broadway and regional productions, experience the governing body noted that she shared with her community, including through directing afterschool drama productions at Memorial School and directing musicals at Pascack Hills High School, Summit High School, and Don Bosco Preparatory High School.
She also graciously volunteered her time with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Tri-Boro Food Pantry, and Meals on Wheels.
Overall, the resolution says, Curry dedicated more than three decades of her life to the service of the Montvale community. The document lauds Curry’s “diverse and extraordinary contributions to the Borough of Montvale, and her unfailing dedication to the Montvale Public Library.”
She is survived by her husband, Brian; their three children, Sean Curry (Kelly), Evan Curry (Victoria), and Emma Downey (Michael); and two grandchildren, Molly Jane and Anna Rose.
The Montvale Free Public Library was founded in 1975 and is housed in the Montvale Borough Hall building at 12 Mercedes Drive. It offers lectures, workshops, book discussions, and other activities to the public, covid-permitting, along with special programs for children.
Patrons may access materials from more than 77 libraries belonging to the Bergen County Cooperative Library System.
Farewell to a friend
Mayor Michael Ghassali wrote residents on Nov. 23, 2021 to say Curry, council president in 2015 and 2017, had decided to step down for personal reasons.
Her seat was filled by fellow Republican Theresa Cudequest, who is council liaison to the library, and a special election will be held in November to fill the remainder of her term of office.
In 2020, Curry told us the biggest challenge the borough faced was the new development ongoing and proposed, including the S. Hekemian residential and retail development on Mercedes Drive, and multifamily residential and affordable apartments at the former Sony property.
She said her greatest concern was “maintaining Montvale’s current lifestyle while adding services residents want, while remaining financially responsible.”
She said in her next term, a work in progress, she was “really interested in investigating opportunities to improve our senior center and recreation opportunities for all Montvale residents, especially our children.”