Obituary For Douglas P. Fahey (September 4, 1963- April 18, 2021)
Service Information:
10 AM Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Victories
150 Harriot Avenue
Harrington Park, NJ 07640
Lunch To Follow at:
Viccolo's
216 Old Tappan Rd
Old Tappan, NJ 07675
Fahey, Douglas Patrick, age 57, of New York, New York, on Sunday,
April 18, 2021.
To know Doug was to love him.
Doug was born at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City on September 4, 1963, to delighted parents Theresa Marie (nee Keenan) and Patrick Joseph Fahey. He was the third of the family’s five children but never suffered from middle child syndrome. From early on, Doug had no trouble standing out from the crowd: his eyes were bright blue and he boasted a full head of curly blonde hair. He was especially close to older brother Thomas and younger brother Dylan, and held a special place in the hearts of older sister Christine and younger sister Jennifer.
Doug grew up in Paramus, New Jersey, attending Our Lady of the Visitation grammar school. He loved playing football at Petruska Park and quickly earned a reputation as one of the toughest kids on the field. He was never intimidated by bigger kids and never
backed away from a fight.
In those early years, Doug formed a lasting attachment to two underdogs:
The New York Jets and the New York Mets. He idolized Jets QB Joe Namath, Mets outfielder Jim Hickman and the 1969 Miracle Mets. He never stopped believing.
He loved boxing and could recount rounds from many of Muhammad Ali’s greatest ringside battles. The champ was his favorite boxer and before this last hospitalization,
Doug planned to visit the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
As a kid, Doug regularly snuck into his sisters’ room and rifled through the record collection. He discovered America, Paul Simon and, of course, the Beatles. Like the rest of the USA, the boys were all big fans of the Fab Four. And like their heroes, Tom and Doug picked up guitars. Thus began Doug’s devotion to music. He was gifted, a natural performer who could hear a song and play it back with ease. Brother Tom remembers the day it all began. “Doug came back from his first guitar lesson. He was in fifth grade at that time, but I could see that he had found a lifelong love. His happiest times were spent strumming an acoustic while his friends sang a Beatles’ song.”
With his brothers, Doug began a paper route. They hated it but kept it up because they had plans for that money. It was intended to purchase their very first amplifier. Instead, their Dad returned the papers and made them quit the job. He had hated his OWN paper route and wouldn’t have his sons suffer the same fate. But he gifted the boys that much desired amplifier. The paper route was history and the boys were ready to rock. Their first band was called “Lightening.”
Doug attended Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He later described those four years as ‘pure torture.’ But at Bosco he got to know a student named Stan Wiklinski.
Stan remembers an incident from freshman year. “My earliest memory of Doug was Mrs. Kraus's English class. On this particular day, we were a bit rowdy. Mrs. Kraus was very short, 4'9" or 10". At one point she turned to Doug, who was of course cracking up the class with his one liners, and said ‘You know, I've had just about enough of this.’ And without missing a beat, he responded ‘I know, you've had it up to here, right?’ and he put his hand up to the middle of his chest, busting her on how short she was. Mrs. Kraus laughed, she couldn't help herself! The whole class lost it, it was hysterical.”
That was Doug.
After graduating from Bosco, Doug chose to follow his parents and older siblings to the Bronx, attending Fordham University. Doug discovered White Castle and Keating Hall. More importantly, he embraced the Jesuit philosophy. While many of his classmates chased dollar signs, Doug proudly called himself a 'Bobby Kennedy liberal.’ He opened his big heart to those less fortunate. He used his electives to study philosophy, religion and social justice.
Doug joined a band consisting of Fordham pals: John McPartlin as lead singer, Jim Mongan on lead guitar, brother Dylan on drums, Guy D’Aguanno on bass, and Doug on rhythm guitar. They called themselves "Rude Awakening” and played mostly original music. One popular tune was a punk rock version of the classic “King of the Road.” The guys landed one notable gig at a downtown club dubbed “The Dive." Enough said. They hoped to land their big break during an open talent call at the famous CBGB’s, but the call was cancelled.
Doug bumped into another Wiklinski at Fordham. Steve was to become one of the most important people in his life: a gentleman who was with Doug during the best of times and the worst of days. They remained best friends until the end. At Fordham, they performed as a popular musical comedy team- known memorably as “Doug & Steve.” Fordham gave them their own night, a “A Doug & Steve Christmas.” Other notable gigs included Fordham’s twenty-four hour dance marathon. And the duo conceived and performed a fundraiser for POTS Soup Kitchen. As a result, Steve and Doug received Student Leadership Awards from the Dean.
Fordham pal and fellow guitarist Lori Urso joined Doug, Stan, and Steve washing dishes
at Fordham’s cafeteria. This gig came with food and they entertained themselves
singing a capella tunes.
After graduating Fordham, Doug went on to earn a masters degree in Education. He chose to teach in the poorest areas, spending his career in the South Bronx. One student remembered fondly that Mr. Fahey was the teacher who always came in with the best Christmas gifts for his students. He was truly happy when with his students, sharing his love of learning and life. Doug began his teaching career with Humberto Roberts. Their close friendship continued until the end of Doug’s life.
“I first met Doug on September 11, 1989 at Community School 150 in the Bronx. We were both first year teachers. By watching his interactions with the students, it was evident that he was a person who truly cared about them and really enjoyed his job. Up until 2015, when I retired from C.S. 150, parents and former students would still ask me how Mr. Fahey was doing because of how close they knew we were.”
Douglas became a father nearly twenty years ago. And while young Patrick has special needs, Doug took great pleasure in every moment they spent together. In the nineties, Doug began to experience kidney issues. These only worsened. He was fortunate to
spend an increasing amount of time with the Wiklinski family. Soon he was an adopted
family member. With his own parents gone, Stan and Barbara Wiklinski gave him a home
and embraced him. But Doug was never healthy enough to return to teaching.
Doug was a loyal, loving, reliable friend and he cultivated and maintained strong friendships. Stan recalls an act of kindness that stays with him to this day.
“Somewhere in the mid-nineties, I lost my license for a year. This made picking up
my young son Matt very difficult (he was 8 or 9). Doug would drive all the way from the Bronx, in his blue Cadillac, and pick me up in New Jersey and then pick up Matt. Next he would drive me to wherever I needed to go. Many times he'd drive us back to the Bronx and we'd spend the day with him, either in the apartment or at Fordham playing football or soccer. He did it for a year. A true friend. He would always put change on the floor in the back for Matt to "find", and Matt would always look for it.”
“When Doug was in the hospital,” his sister Chris shares,” I often felt more like
his social secretary than his health care advocate. The phone calls, texts and e-mails
never stopped. And Doug wanted to hear about everyone who called and how to get back to them.” Doug got to know Margaret Cullen when she was a bartender at The Harbor House. But she went back to school and became a nurse practitioner. “Margaret was always his first call when he didn’t feel well, the one medical professional he knew he could truly trust,” according to Chris.
Before the pandemic, in September of 2019, many of Doug’s friends and family
gathered with him to celebrate his birthday and their friendship. It was a night of love, laughter, music and memories, held at The Wiklinski’s. Having lost Doug nearly two years later, we will treasure the good times we shared. Doug was a gift, on loan from our Lord.
And now he is truly headed home.
Says Steve, “Doug used to say that we had been friends for over thirty years and never had an argument. A mild embellishment perhaps, but only that. We simply enjoyed each other's company. When we got together, the comedy began and the worries of life would drift away. About my friend, if I were allowed only a one word description, it would be kind. I searched for him when I needed my spirit uplifted, and he never let me down. Doug, you touched many people's hearts, in very special ways.”
We didn’t have enough time with you, Doug, and we miss you already. We’ll look
out for Patrick and pray that one day, we’ll see you again. For now, no more pain
and no more suffering. God bless you, Doug. We love you.
New Title
John Q Lantry. October 21, 1934 – July 21, 2025 It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of John Q. Lantry on July 21, after a battle with pneumonia. John was born in Malone NY, the youngest of 5 children of Michael and Mary Lantry of Hogansburg, NY. John’s chosen profession was teaching, he became public school teacher out of college and was the long time principal of Round Hill Elementary School in Washingtonville, N.Y. until he retired. His enthusiasm and love of teaching endeared him to generations of students and the teachers who worked with him and became his lifelong friends. As a theater and opera lover, he moved to New York City after he retired, where he attended musicals and Broadway performances whenever he could. He was also a master Bridge player, and he loved to travel and expand his horizons. He often spoke about his trip to China as one of the high points of his travels. John was a devoted member of the Catholic Church, and worked for many years at St. Jean Batiste Church, he also taught Bible studies as well as English as a Second Language. He also often spoke of his fondness for the time he was able to spend at the Linwood Spiritual Center in upstate New York. John is survived by his niece and nephews, their families, and leaves behind many close friends. We will remember his generosity, his love of life, his laughter, and his devotion. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday August 1, 2025, at 10 am, at St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 980 Park Ave. New York, N.Y.
In Loving Memory We are saddened to share that our beloved mother passed away peacefully at home on Monday, July 8th. Born in 1942 in the countryside of southern Sweden, she was the daughter of a Swedish farmer and the eldest of three sisters. After serving in the Swedish military, she set out to see the world—first London, then Los Angeles, and finally New York, where she met her husband and raised her children. She is survived by her son, Peter Orphanos, and his wife, Nicole Orphanos; her grandchildren, Katherine and Peter Orphanos, all of New York; and her daughter, Anne Marie. She lived with quiet strength, deep patience, and an unwavering love for her family. After the passing of her husband four years ago, she and her son grew even closer, sharing time and memories that will always be cherished. She will be remembered for her resilience, warmth, and the love she gave to all who knew her. A wake will be held Tuesday, July 16th from 6 to 8 p.m. at John Krtil Funeral Home, 70th Street and 1st Avenue. Per her wishes, there will be no formal service.
Terrence “Terry” Gibbons, 58, passed away at home, surrounded by family and friends on June 5 after a brief battle with brain cancer. Terry was born in Brooklyn and raised in Travis, Staten Island. He attended Moore Catholic and Susan Wagner high schools. Terry enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the U.S.S. Constellation CV-64 as a Hull Technician (Naval Firefighter) from 1984-1987. Following an honorable discharge, he continued his military career in the Navy Reserve. He remained a proud patriot throughout his life. He was an active member of American Legion Post 347 Lady Lake, FL. In 1988 Terry began working as a plumber at NY Presbyterian Hospital. In his early years at the hospital Terry earned the Good Samaritan Award. His sharp mind and attention to detail enabled him to help the hospital through historic events including 9-11, major blackouts, Super Storm Sandy, various hurricanes and everyday emergencies. He was a frontline worker through the Covid-19 pandemic. Terry spent 36 years as the “Go-To Guy” taking care of “his” hospital. An avid outdoorsman, Terry spent most weekends off the grid camping and hiking in the mountains. He enjoyed bike riding, scuba diving and skydiving. Over the years, he and his wife Linda traveled extensively to places including Costa Rica, Cuba, Israel, Tanzania, Galápagos Islands and Mexico. They also spent many vacations hiking various parts of the U.S. including three trips to the Grand Canyon. His love for his Irish heritage led him to obtain his Irish citizenship in 2018. One of Terry’s greatest achievements came in 2023 when he summited Mount Kilimanjaro. Terry will be remembered for his love for Linda and his family. His humor, incredibly quick wit and storytelling abilities will surely be missed. He is predeceased by his parents, John & Meg Gibbons. He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Linda, his son Kevin Gibbons-Mullen, his three sisters: Jennifer, Joann & Judith, his Mother-in-Law, Dellene, numerous sisters and brothers-in-law and his many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to either- The Wounded Warrior Project. www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org Or Central Park Conservancy “Adopt-a-Bench” click link http://support.centralparknyc.org/goto/TerryGibbons .
Herbert Saalfeld passed away peacefully on June 5th, 2025 at the age of 39. Born on February 5th, 1986 Herbert was the cherished son of Julia Toro and Harold Saalfeld. He is survived by his sister, Juliandra Garcia, and brother in law, Dean Barbier. He was the beloved uncle to Juliet Noble, Jaden Barbier, and Jax Barbier. Herbert will be dearly missed but forever remembered for the love he had for his family.
Please no Flowers, Plants, or Monetary Donations Prayers, good wishes, and mass cards are welcome
Obituary for Myrtle Beatrice Goodwin Myrtle Beatrice Goodwin , RN, PhD (Bea), aged 92, of New York City, passed away peacefully on May 21 in New York City. She was born on December 15, 1932, in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Goodwin earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and went on to complete her Master’s and PhD at New York University. With a profound dedication to nursing education, she became a professor and later served as Dean of Nursing at CUNY Lehman College, where she inspired generations of nursing students and helped shape the future of the profession. Her career included work with the National League for Nursing, where she served as a member of the Board of Review for Baccalaureate and Graduate Education, through which she influenced national standards for nursing education. In 1973, as a consultant for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), she helped establish and develop the first nursing and midwifery education program at the Catholic University in Chile, South America. After her retirement in 1998, she was invited to return to NYU’s College of Nursing as a professor ad honorem, where she had the opportunity to lead a Latin American project supporting the development of nursing research and education in nearly eight countries across Central and South America—a mission she continued until 2019. Dr. Goodwin also distinguished herself through military service, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps and the Air National Guard, where she served from 1960 to 1982. As a flight nurse and Chief Nurse of the Air Evacuation Unit, she participated in critical missions during the Vietnam War, including medical evacuations for wounded American soldiers in remote and high-risk environments. Her work exemplified her lifelong commitment to care, both in practice and education. She was one of the founders and first editors of IMAGE, known today as The Journal of Nursing Scholarship. Dr. Goodwin believed deeply in nursing as a human science. Compassion, respect for human beings, justice, freedom, and service were central to her life. She loved birds and was a devoted reader and quiet writer. In her Letter to Dear Friends on September 11, 2001, she wrote: “…To see the smoke still rising from the hole in a skyline we all loved evokes a stillness in your soul… a stillness of profound sadness; a dam of tears held back by fierce resolve; a grief not only for the moment but for humankind and its loss of innocence, an aching desire to comfort the children who have lost parents, the parents who have lost sons and daughters, the spouses who have lost mates. It is difficult to awaken from the stillness, to what now seems trivial—yet, perhaps, important; useless—yet, perhaps, worthwhile.” She closed: “…Finally, we can take comfort in the realization that the tremendous good of the many has once again outweighed the tremendous evil of a few. The scale is tipped toward good. Peace and love. — Bea” Global health became her passion. A new vision of care and humanity inspired her spirit. From 2006 to 2018, she was a member and Chair of the NGO Health Committee, which holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and is associated with the Department of Public Information of the UN. She influenced and created deeper programs addressing the imperative for students and practicing health professionals to become aware of the health needs of developing and least-developed countries and the interconnectedness of all nations. Dr. Goodwin will live on in the memories of friends, colleagues, former students, fellow nurses and family members, along with many dear ones who remember her as a compassionate leader, a human advocate, and a visionary in the field of nursing. A funeral service will be held on June 5 from 10:00–11:30 AM at John Krtil Funeral Home, 1297 First Avenue (at 70th Street), New York, NY. Burial will follow at 1:00 PM at Woodlawn Cemetery, 4199 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY — Prospect Lot 20144, Section 57. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Goodwin’s honor to the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, in support of nursing education fellowships.
In Loving Memory of Theresa Reilly Virga January 14, 1930 – May 19, 2025 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt, Terry, who departed this life peacefully on May 19, 2025. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Sam; her cherished children, Anthony, Arleen, and Rosario; and her dear brothers, Frank, Jack, and George. While her loss leaves a deep void, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with them in eternal peace. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Theresa, and her husband, Michael Cleary; and her loving son, John, and his wife, Arlene Virga. Her greatest joy came from her family, and she leaves behind a legacy of love through her grandchildren: Theresa Perkin (Tony), Nicole Cleary, AJ Virga (Caroline), Andrew Virga (Rachel), Michael Virga (Ben), Stephen O’Neill (Kate), Daniel O’Neill, Jamie O’Neill (Claire), and Shayna Cole (Mike). She was a proud great-grandmother to Elizabeth, William, Nicolas, Nathan, Henry, Vivian, and Casey. Each of them brought a special light into her life. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Antoinette, and many beloved nieces and nephews, whose lives she touched with warmth, laughter, and unwavering love. Terry also leaves behind many dear friends and extended family, each of whom held a special place in her heart. Some have preceded her in death, and others remain to cherish her memory. She treasured lifelong bonds, old friends who shared her history, new friends who brought fresh light, and extended family who felt like her own. Their companionship, laughter, and steady presence were a constant source of joy. Her friendships were a beautiful reflection of the warmth, loyalty, and kindness she gave so freely to others. Terry will be remembered for her boundless generosity, kindness, humor, feistiness, and deep devotion to her family. She filled every room with laughter, her kitchen was always open, and her love was a steady source of comfort to all who knew her. She leaves behind a family bound together by her enduring spirit, countless memories, and the values she instilled in each generation. She was, and always will be, the world’s best Grammy. She will be missed dearly, loved always, and remembered forever. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in memory of Theresa Virga to one of the following organizations that reflect her values and life: • Wounded Warrior Project – www.woundedwarriorproject.org • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – www.nami.org • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – www.stjude.org