James Michaels

Westwood, NJ: James Michaels, 50-year resident of the Pascack Valley and former Westwood businessman, passed away on Wednesday, December 13th, 2016. He was 89. Born in Altoona, PA, being one of five children, James joined the US Army to serve in WWII following high school graduation in 1945. Honorably discharged, he attended New York City’s School of Art and was prepared to accept employment with Newsweek magazine, when he was drafted for a second tour of service during the Korean War. He subsequently worked as a purchasing agent for the Army Air Force Exchange Service before his marriage in 1958 to Thalia (nee Garifalos) of Westwood, NJ. James moved with his family from Township of Washington, NJ to Westwood, NJ in 1975. At that time he assumed proprietorship of Star Shoe Repair, a family business with a 65-year history on Westwood Avenue. Prior to joining the family business, James was employed as administrative assistant at Pascack Valley Hospital where he designed what became the hospital’s official logo, eventually moving to Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River, NY as a designer of it’s product labels. In addition to his wife, James is survived by his daughter, Melanie and her husband John Guttridge, Esq. of Katonah, NY; his two sons, Frank of Englewood, FL and Nicholas of Ocean Port, NJ; and his four grandchildren. The family will receive guests at Becker Funeral Home, Westwood, NJ on Friday, December 16th, from 2-4 and 7-9PM. A Mass celebrating James’ life and faith will be held at St. Athanasios G.O. Church in Paramus, NJ on Saturday at 10:30AM with interment at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, NJ to follow.