Eric H Fields

ERIC HARRISON FIELDS, born August 7, 1938 in Brooklyn New York, died August 20th, 2016. He moved while young to Miami, Florida where he attended Junior and Senior High School, returned to Teaneck, New Jersey to graduate from Teaneck High School at the age of 16, attended the University of Miami and graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University.

Fields achieved his private pilot’s license at 19 and in 1969 he founded Spartan Aviation which operated a dozen aircrafts at Teterboro and other airports for rental and instructional purposes. In 1971, Fields was selected by the NJ Republican State Chairman, the late Nelson Gross, to Act as his aide and personal pilot to assist Gross’s senatorial campaign. After the campaign ended, Mr. Gross was appointed Assistant Secretary of State by President Nixon and Fields’ pilot services were then utilized by Governors Cahill, Whitman and other notables. As part of his duties, he made frequent trips to Washington, DC and met with President Nixon and other elected officials.

After achieving the status of flight instructor in single and muti-engine aircraft, land, sea and instrument, 1 year prior to the events that took place September 11, 2001, Field’s volunteered to be a pilot with the US coast Guard Auxiliary and was among the first planes ordered by Homeland Security to photograph the wreckage of the Twin Towers.

He eventually rose to become Division Vice-Captain, Flotilla Commander, and District Staff Officer/Aviation. He was honored multiple times for his selfless contributions of hours patrolling the New York coast from Sandy Hook, NJ to the Canadian border. He was presented with the Distinguished Lifetime Service medal after 9/11 and for several other search and rescues in which he participated and directed. The US Congress awarded Fields numerous commendations and awards, one of which was presented personally by Rep. Peter King. Field’s was often filmed or covered by the press for his unceasing aviation contribution to the safety and wellbeing of those who live within the greater metropolitan area.

Professionally, in 1961 Fields incorporated Northern New Jersey Credit Adjustment Bureau. In 1971 the presiding Judge of the NJ District Court, Paul Huot, appointed Fields as a ministerial officer of the civil court, a position which he kept until his death. During this long and distinguished tenure, he was appointed to the NJ Supreme Court Special Civil Part Practice Committee, the only non-lawyer, non-civil service employee to ever serve. He was instrumental in passage of legislation and rules which improved and modernized the court now known as the Special Civil Part Division of the Superior Court.

Fields served as president and chairman of the board of directors of the NJ Superior Court Officers’ Association and became a delegate to PBA Local 112.

Fields married his surviving widow Lynne (Lynne D. Feldman, Esq.) in 1971. They had a daughter, Erica Leigh Fields, who became a lawyer like her mother. She and her husband, Simon Knott, also of Upper Saddle River, have a son, Adam Nathan Knott. Fields’ other daughter Andrea Stone is a nurse residing in Sarasota, who was with him at the time of his death.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend and lover of his deer herd as well as all wildlife. There was no joke left unsaid, many times. He believed in charity, community service, and helping those less fortunate.

Donations may be made to St. Jude Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital and the Humane Society.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday, August 24 at 11:00AM, Gutterman & Musicant Jewish Funeral Directors, 402 Park Street, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601. Shiva will be observed at 14 Northern Drive, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Wednesday evening from 4pm-8pm, Thursday from 1pm-6pm and Friday from 1pm-6pm.