RIP Dr. Ostfeld

"You were a great man and one of the pillars of the Academies. Thanks for everything you've done, and above all else, thanks for allowing me (not yet a resident of Bergen County during the time of admissions) to attend the Academies." --me

Well, that was one great bang to close the year, after a dramatic opening with Holbrook's passing. BCA will never be the same again.

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So finally the [useless and horrifically designed] bergen.org website has a note from Russ Davis, the principal:

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of Dave Ostfeld's passing. According to his family, Dave went to see a performance of the Nutcracker last night with his sister and daughter and died of a sudden heart attack this morning.

Words cannot express the impact that Dave has had on the Academy community since it's inception and I am certain that the news of his death will be difficult for our entire staff as well as current and former students.

I will forward information regarding funeral services as soon as I receive them from his family.

Sincerely,

Russ

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Here is the official obituary:

[David L. Ostfeld Jr.] passed away suddenly on December 27, 2010 at the age of 68 years. He was born on September 17, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois of David L. and Mildred (nee Harrison) Ostfeld, who both pre-deceased him.

Surviving are his children Kurt D. and his wife Alethia, Dana C., and Mara C. Ostfeld; grandchildren Selah and Elise; siblings Craig H., Lynne R., Adrienne and her husband Donald, Bohnenkamp; numerous loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

Dave taught chemistry, served as Admissions Chair and coached the chess team at Bergen County Academies. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois in Champaign, his PhD from Cornell University, and did post doctoral work at Texas A&M. He had become an avid genealogist and was developing an interest in agriculture and farming. He was the best dad ever.

Funeral service on Friday, December 31, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Vander Plaat Memorial Home, S-113 Farview Ave., Paramus. Private Cremation. Interment Dickison Cemetery, Dunlap, Illinois sometime this spring. Family will receive friends Thursday, December 30, 2010 from 2-4, 7-9 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to the Dr. David L. Ostfeld Memorial Scholarship Fund, Bergen County Academies, 200 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601.