Obituary of Walter F. Root

MENDHAM - Walter F. Root died at home on Saturday, April 25, 2009 after a long illness. He was 85. Born on August 19, 1923 to the late Walter and Myrtle (Mount) Root in Newark NJ, he had been a resident of Florham Park and Morristown before moving to Mendham 32 years ago. He was a veteran of the U. S. Navy serving in World War II aboard the USS Elokomin from 1943 until 1945 as an Electricians Mate First Class. Mr. Root was group insurance account executive with Prudential Insurance in Newark for over 42 years before his retirement in 1983. Mr. Root was a councilman for Florham Park from 1958 until 1962. He served as the Public Safety Chairman and was a member of the Juvenile Conference Committee. He was an avid sports enthusiast, and was a member of the Past Time Club in Mendham. He coached little league and hockey in both Mendham and Florham Park. He was a semi-professional baseball player, and played with Whitey Ford. He was a member of the Prudential Semi-professional Baseball Team, and a member of the Newark Police Department Semi-professional Team. He also played basketball for Rutgers University while attending there. Mr. Root is survived by his wife of 36 years, the former Linda Serdakowski, two sons, Glenn of Mt Olive Twp., and Doug of Manhattan; his daughter Karin Schaefer and her husband Cliff of Oak Ridge, two granddaughters Danielle and Krista Schaefer, and his faithful black lab "Ace." Arrangements are by the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham, NJ 07945 (973) 543-4720. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Funeral services will be from the funeral home on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 8:30 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Vincent de Paul R. C. Church, Bebout Avenue, Stirling, NJ 07980, with the Rev. Monsignor Patrick Brown officiating. Interment will be at Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, 1500 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ immediately following Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Mendham Borough First Aid Squad PO Box 131 Mendham, NJ 07945 would be appreciated by the family.