Saddle Brook man in his 90s becomes NJ's third coronavirus death
All of NorthJersey.com's coronavirus coverage is being provided free to our readers. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to NorthJersey.com at northjersey.com/subscribe.A 90-year-old Saddle Brook man was the third person in New Jersey to die of complications from the coronavirus.
Township Mayor Bob White said Tuesday morning he had "hoped and prayed that Saddle Brook would be spared from this day, but sadly the day has come."
The man was being treated at Hackensack University Medical Center. "Our prayers are with his family during this difficult time," Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday night, in announcing the death via Twitter.
Bob Kugler, the manager of Kugler Funeral Home, said he was a longtime friend of the man who died. He described him as an "active 90-year-old" and an Army veteran of the Korean War.
"He was a father and a grandfather, just a great person,” Kugler said. “He had no health issues and was vibrant and active. He went on a snowmobiling trip with his family last month and was still actively working in a public role in Bergen County.”
Kugler, who also serves as the township police chief, said the man was taken by ambulance to the hospital on Friday. He declined to identify him but said residents are doing what they can to support the family because this is a “very serious matter” and people should “heed the warnings” of experts.
The family is self-quarantining and trying to determine how best to honor him.
It was the third coronavirus fatality in New Jersey in a week and the second in Bergen County, where more patients — 61— have been diagnosed than in any other county.
John Brennan, a 69-year-old Little Ferry man, died March 10, also at Hackensack University Medical Center. Brennan, a racehorse owner and trainer, had a number of chronic conditions, including emphysema and diabetes.
A religious-education teacher from Freehold was New Jersey's second death. Rita Fusco-Jackson, who was in her 50s, was believed to have been infected at a family gathering with her brother, who was a friend of Brennan's, according to state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. Fusco-Jackson died Saturday night at CentraState Medical Center.
Hackensack University Medical Center extended "its heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family and loved ones of the patient who passed today," a statement issued late Monday night said. "We are all deeply concerned about the continued spread of coronavirus/COVID-19. This is undoubtedly a difficult time for everyone."
Those with underlying medical conditions and the elderly, especially those over age 80, have the highest risk of dying from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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A study of thousands of cases in China found that the death rate for those over 80 was 18%. Weaker immune systems and a greater likelihood of suffering from other chronic conditions contribute to the risk, scientists say.
The number of patients in New Jersey diagnosed with coronavirus surged to 178 Monday, with 80 new cases added. It was the largest single-day jump since the state's first case was reported on March 4. Among all 178 cases, the ages of the patients range from 5 to 93, Persichilli said.
Murphy enacted strict measures Monday in an attempt to combat the rapid spread of the virus throughout the state. The governor ordered bars, gyms and other businesses to close until further notice, urged residents to abide by a voluntary curfew at night and mobilized the state National Guard to assist with measures to slow the spread of the virus.
Officials have continued to hammer home the message that residents should engage in social distancing, by avoiding gatherings of more than 10 to 50, staying 6 feet from other people and washing hands regularly for 20 seconds.