Obituary of Frank A. Maher

Frank A. Maher of Mt. Arlington (formerly of Hackensack) passed away Friday, July 7, 2023 at home.

He was 98.

Born in Paterson on May 25, 1925 to the late Frank and the late Grace (English) Maher, he lived in Hackensack prior to moving to Mt. Arlington 17 years ago.

Prior to his retirement, Frank was a Sheriff’s Officer in the courthouse in Hackensack.

A proud World War II and Korean War veteran, Frank was commissioned in 1943 as a Navy Armed Guard Petty Officer in WWII where he was a 2^nd Class Gunner’s Mate in charge of gun crews while on board three Merchant Tankers and one Liberty Ammunition Ship. He served in the Atlantic, European, and Pacific combat areas and was discharged in 1946 to the Organized Reserve Navy Training Center in Clifton, NJ.

Frank was recalled to active duty from the Clinton Center in 1950 for the Korean War where he was assigned as Petty Officer First Class Gunner’s Mate on the USS Menard APA201 as Gun Captain of Main Gun Battery. The Assault Transport Menard participated in the troop operations along the coast of North Korea during two periods of combat actions: Communist China Spring Offensive 1951 and the UN Summer Fall Offensive 1951. Thes hip and crew received 2 Bronze Stars.

In 1952, he was separated to the Clifton Reserve Center once again. After standby status for many Cold War crises and called up for Cuba, he was discharged in 1968 after 25 years of active and inactive service.

 He was awarded the US Navy Combat Action Ribbon (WWII), American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, US Navy Combat Ribbon-Korea, Korean Service Medal-2 Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal, China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal-I Bronze Star, US Navy Expeditionary Medal-Cuba, US Navy Reserve Medal, US Navy Cold War Certificate, Liberation Medal and Certificate-France, Battle of the Atlantic Certificate-England, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of China Badge of Honor-Taiwan, Republic of China Mutual Defense Medal-Taiwan , NJ Distinguished Service-WWII and NJ Distinguished Service-Korea.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 0147 in Elmwood Park and VFW Post 3484 in Saddle Brook.

He is predeceased by his parents, 2 stepchildren: Brian and Doreen Kane and 2 brothers: William and Paul Maher.

Survivors include his wife Louise (Mancini) Maher, 2 stepchildren: Tom (Marion) Kane and Paul (Theresa) Kane and a sister, Joann (Stephen) Orosz.  Also survived by 8 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Frank’s Life Celebration on Wednesday, July 12 from 4:00PM to 7:00PM at the Leber-Lakeside Funeral Home, 150 Landing Road, Landing.

A Funeral Mass will be offered on Thursday, July 13 at 10:30AM at Our Lady of the Lake RC Church in Mt. Arlington. All are invited to meet at church on Thursday morning.

Frank will be laid to rest with Military Honors following mass in the Northern New Jersey Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Sparta.

Memorial donations may be made to:  Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church Mt. Arlington