Obituary of James Donald Pappas

JAMES DONALD PAPPAS, age 69, of Hackensack, entered into eternal rest on August 12. He was born in Passaic to the late Harry Aris and Alice Araujo Pappas and raised in Rutherford (Rutherford High School, Class of 1964) along with his brother Harold (now deceased). Cherished husband of Cecilia (Reilly) Pappas. Loving father of Douglas, Meredith and her husband James Lutz, and Debra and her husband Leonard Stuart, and of step-children Sean Reilly, Megan Irwin (and husband James) and Caitlin Olcott. He was grandfather to seven children: Pop Pop to Benjamin, Sarah, David, and Logan, and Papa Don to Faith, Brenna, and Hayley. He attended the Newark College of Engineering evenings for a few years where he studied construction engineering. By the time he was in his early twenties, he had started his own company called Pappas Construction and in forty years he never had a dissatisfied customer. He was a member of Elks Lodge #1506 in Ridgefield Park, Scout Master for Troop #11 in the Second Reformed Church in Hackensack for twenty five years, and involved in scouting for over thirty years. He received numerous awards for his work in scouts, including a citation from the State of New Jersey General Assembly, a District Award of Merit, a service award from the Bergen Council of the Tantaqua District Klondike Committee, and a Bicentennial Declaration for outstanding service to the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of the Garden State Ski Club for twelve years where he served on the House Committee from 2004 to 2013 and was honored for his service. He was a member of the Garden State Ski Club Race team in the early years. He was also awarded a certificate of appreciation from the Bergen Community Regional Center where he donated blood and platelets on close to a hundred separate occasions. Don enjoyed skiing (including adaptive skiing after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2005), fishing, hunting, working with wood, camping, boating on Lake George, traveling, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He participated in Walk to Defeat ALS fundraisers for nine years, raising more than a total of $35,000. He lived fully in the moment up until the very end of his life. Even after being diagnosed with ALS, he faced his daily challenges with gusto, positive energy, honesty, grace, and courage. The Funeral from the funeral home on Tuesday, August 18, at 9:30AM . The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM at St. Joseph's R.C. Church, 115 E. Fort Lee Road, Bogota. Interment will follow at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. The family will receive friends on Monday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 PM. In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to one of James preferred chartities: Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation Adaptive Sports/Skiing at 5155 Route 9W North, West Haverstraw, NY 10993 ALS Association at 42 Broadway, Suite 1724, New York, New York, 10004 MDA/ALS at 25 East Spring Valley Avenue #210, Maywood, NJ 07607. Villa Marie Claire Hospice at 12 West Saddle River Road, Saddle River NJ Eleventh Hour Rescue PO Box 218 Rockaway, NJ 07866 attn: Tammy's dogs