Lewis D. Azaroff

Lew predeceased by his wife of 72 years, Irma is survived by son Geoffrey (Gail), daughters Leslie Azaroff and Sheryl Azaroff, granddaughters Rachel Azaroff, Beth (Emir), Valerie Marks (Scott), grandson Scott Azaroff (Erin), great-grandsons Jordan Marks, Jet Azaroff, Joshua Marks and sister Frances Chvala (Bob). Also several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Lew's family moved to Hackensack in 1937 when he was in kindergarten. He attended Union Street Grammar School, State Street Junior High, and Hackensack High, Class of 1948. Lew graduated from Rutgers-Newark in 1953. He served two years in the National Guard and two years in the Army.

Lew met Irma on a blind date Feb 9, 1952. They were engaged April 1, 1953, and married Sept 13, 1953. Lew belonged to several organizations: American Legion, Boy Scouts, ACLU, AARP, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Sports Lodge, B'nai B'rith.

Lew was employed by The Record (Bergen Evening Record when he started) from March 20, 1955, to Oct 30,1992 in the news department. He spent one year as a local reporter, then became a copyeditor. He had several roles in news, but the role he enjoyed most was 14 years in Sports, particularly his 10 years as handicapper Pat Picker. He also wrote a sports column Notes and Quotes and an occasional feature story. Lew moonlighted at various times at the New York Daily News, the Post, the Newark News, and the Star-Ledger. One year he wrote 40 free-lance sports articles for the New York Times.

Actually, Lew's working career started at age 12 in his father's grocery store at 105 Main Street, Hackensack. It was wartime and clerks were scarce so Lew pitched in. He learned a great deal about dealing with people and responsibility.

Lew was an outgoing guy who made friends easily. He would talk to anybody. Irma once said, "Lew could talk to a fire hydrant." He also was known as honest and forthright with a great sense of humor. He had a lot of friends. Lew liked to locate people from years long ago.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the American Cancer Society, or Bergen Hatzalah.