(Staten Island Advance Noveber 30, 2006)
Emil A. Westerinen, 83, of Little Falls, N.J., a retired civilian employee of the U.S. Army, died Monday in St. Joseph's Hospital, Wayne, N.J. Born and reared in North East, Md., Mr. Westerinen moved to Staten Island 2002 with his wife and family in 1968. They made their home in Grymes Hill, then moved to West Brighton in 1976. Mr. Westerinen relocated to Little Falls this past June. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, the sergeant was a radar technician in the Pacific, stationed in Burma, China and India. After the war, he took a bachelor of arts degree in history from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in education from the University of Delaware. He subsequently did postgraduate work in education at Teachers College of Columbia University. Mr. Westerinen's career as a civilian employee with the Army began after the war, when he was assigned to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. While he lived on Staten Island, he served as educational adviser for the Army's Chaplain School. The school was located at Fort Hamilton from 1961 to 1974; at Fort Wadsworth from 1974 to 1979, and at Fort Monmouth, N.J., from 1979. Mr. Westerinen, who was transferred each time the school was moved, retired from Fort Monmouth in 1984. In his leisure time he loved to listen to the radio. He particularly enjoyed tuning in to WNYC, National Public Radio. My husband was a wonderful man who would support you in whatever it was you were involved in or interested in, said his wife of 51 years, Julia Jefferson Westerinen. He was like a father to us all. He never said a bad word about anyone. He was so wise and kind, and a wonderful teacher. He had many people who loved him and will miss him, Mrs. Westerinen said. In addition to his wife, Mr. Westerinen is survived by his three sons, Jeff, Arthur and Marshall Westerinen; his daughter, Dorothy Westerinen, and four grandchildren. The funeral service will be Friday at 7 p.m. in the Harmon Home for Funerals, West Brighton. Burial will take place Saturday in North East Methodist Cemetery, Maryland.