Obituary of Ethel Kauffman

KAUFFMAN, Ethel L. (nee Hassard), 93, passed away on July 10, 2009 at Heritage Manor in Wyckoff. Ethel was born in Jersey City on September 27, 1915 to Elsie Jund Hassard and Robert Hassard. Ethel was a longtime resident of North Haledon before retiring to Coupeville, Washington and more recently to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the 1970's Ethel led the battle to save High Mountain from development by founding an organization named S.O.U.L. (Save Our Undeveloped Land). The intrepid band of citizens canvassed the community to fund a legal challenge to the plan to develop the forested area. Their years of effort were rewarded by a court ruling that the land be preserved in perpetuity. Today, the 1,150-acre site known as High Mountain Park Preserve is one of the largest tracts of wilderness in the Piedmont region of the Watchung Mountains. In 1993, the reserve came under the protection of the international conservation group, Nature Conservancy. In addition to the High Mountain conservation work, Ethel was a secretary with the New York City office of The English Speaking Union and had a practice as an independent travel consultant. She was also a longtime member of the North Haledon Garden Club and served as President of the Manchester High School PTA. She attended Hawthorne Gospel Church and, more recently, Grace Community Church of Franklin Lakes. Ethel and her husband, Palmer Kauffman, who passed away in 2001, had been married for 62 years. They are survived by their children: Russell (Vinita) Kauffman of Toms River, NJ, Susan (Herbert) McDonald of Oak Harbor, WA, Palmer Sam (Suzanne) Kauffman of Englewood, CO, Evelyn (Uzi) Yaari of Bala Cynwyd, PA, and Loretta (Leonard) Provenzale of Oakland, NJ. Ethel had nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and seven step-grandchildren. Burial in North Bergen, NJ will be private. All are encouraged to join the family at a Memorial Tribute on Saturday morning, July 18, at 11 o'clock at The Tides Estate, 1245 Belmont Avenue in North Haledon. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ethel's memory to The Nature Conservancy (http://www.nature.org) or another charity of the donor's choice will be appreciated. Funeral arrangements by VanderPlaat Funeral Home (http://www.vanderplaatfuneralhome.com/)