WESTWOOD, N.J.—Beloved local volunteer James J. Quirk is resettling in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, which Mayor John Birkner Jr. explained at the Oct. 15 council meeting is “Westwood South.”
Birkner made the remarks in extending the borough’s thanks to Quirk on behalf of the Borough Council, honoring him for 23 years of selfless service to the residents of Westwood and wishing him good health and much happiness.
Borough Clerk Karen Hughes’s voice quavered with emotion as she read Quirk’s proclamation, and was the first of many at the dais to acknowledge how Quirk had affected themselves and so many others so meaningfully.
Quirk and his late wife, Frances Patricia—Pat—moved to Westwood in 1965, raised three children here, and were a part of the vibrant St. Andrew’s Church family.
Quirk retired in 1995 and began looking for opportunities to volunteer. In 1996 he volunteered with the Local Assistance Board and its affiliate Westwood Cares, quickly becoming an invaluable resource to the Social Services director.
The proclamation says Quirk helped to plan and worked many Westwood Cares fundraising events for residents in need; participated in the annual Salvation Army bell-ringing campaign at
Kmart, the proceeds of which benefit Westwood residents; and picked up, cleaned, counted, and deposited the change that is collected in the Paramus Park fountain change program, which also benefits Westwood residents.
“Whether help was needed with the borough’s food pantry, the annual Have A Heart gift drive, or the emergency shelter during times of flooding, Jim has always been the first one to pitch in and get the job done,” the proclamation says.
It adds that Quirk also ushered at St. Andrews Church and volunteered with the St. Andrew’s Food Pantry, collecting and distributing day-old bread from donors such as Trader Joe’s, and collecting and distributing donations of chocolate from Conrad’s.
“After dedicating countless hours to helping his fellow residents, Jim is downsizing and moving to the warm sunshine of Florida, where he will no doubt quickly find opportunities to volunteer his time at the local church and food pantry,” the officials agreed.
Pat, Quirk’s beloved wife of 39 years, was a graduate of Holy Angels Academy, The Holy Name Hospital School of Nursing and Seton Hall University, and past president of Holy Name Alumni.
In 1986 she received the Governors Award for excellence in teaching. She retired in 1994 after 22 years as a school nurse and health occupations teacher for the Bergen County Board of Vocational Education.
She also was a member of Westwood Columbettes Council 2188, The Book and Needle Club of Oradell, the Paramus Walkers, a longtime member of The Lake Naomi Club in Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania, and a past member of the Westwood Board of Health.