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December 29, 2018
Celebrating Stiles and Lillian Thomas
As many of you may have heard, two of the finest people we will ever know are moving from Allendale after decades of living here.
Earlier this week, Mayor White read a proclamation honoring Stiles and Lillian. I am reprinting it here.
Proclamation in Honor of
Stiles and Lillian Thomas
Whereas, Stiles and Lillian Thomas, fondly thought of as Mr. and Mrs. Allendale, will be moving out of the Borough; and…
Whereas, Stiles was born in Allendale on Christmas Day in 1923 and has been a life-long resident of this community; and
Whereas, Lillian was born on August 15, 1924 and has lived in Allendale since 1946; and
Whereas, Stiles joined the Army in November 1942 at just 18 years of age where he served as a
Paratrooper and reached the rank of 1 st Sergeant; and
Whereas, Lillian and Stiles were high school sweethearts, and upon Stiles’ honorable discharge from theArmy, they were married in 1946; and
Whereas, Stiles and Lillian raised three daughters together, Georgie, Betsy, and Judy, and have many grandchildren and great grandchildren; and
Whereas, both Stiles and Lillian have been active in the community, with Lillian having served the Borough as its Welfare Director and as a member of the Board of Adjustment and Stiles serving as an Allendale insurance broker for many years and as the Borough’s first Marsh Warden, a position that he held for 27 years; and
Whereas, both Stiles and Lillian have been dedicated to protecting the environment, both having been instrumental in working to create and maintain the 107-acre Celery Farm Natural Area; and
Whereas, Stiles has been a staunch advocate for preserving nature, and in addition to his stewardship at the Celery Farm, he has introduced dozens of people to the joys of birding, championing the Red-shouldered Hawks of Allendale and putting up dozens of bluebird and barn owl boxes all over Bergen County to provide homes for at-risk species; and
Whereas, Lillian was the catalyst for preserving 20 acres of environmentally sensitive wetlands, an area that was renamed in her honor as the Lillian Thomas Natural Area and remains a beautiful and protected sanctuary for plants and wildlife.
Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Allendale do hereby recognize Lillian and Stiles Thomas for their dedicated service and many contributions to the community and extend heartfelt wishes for continued happiness and success in their new home.
Elizabeth White, Mayor
December 27, 2018
10 comments
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Hello Allendale,best wishes and a very Happy New Year to you all . Stiles and Lillian are not only going to be missed by their friends in Allendale but here also in England but our loss is Massachusetts gain ,here in England every new year the Queen has a honours list where the great and good receive medals,Knighthoods and in some cases Lordships so if they came to live in England we would be saying arise Lord and Lady Thomas .wishing them all the very best I know Patti and Jim Will miss them immensely great friends .
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You will be missed!
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God less you both.You have been such an inspiration to so many because of your friendliness,sense of humor and dedication to preserving the little bit of wilderness we have left for future generations to enjoy! THANk YOU!
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Stiles & Lillian . . .Two friendship-magnets wherever they roam . . A’Dale’s loss is MA’s gain.
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Stiles & Lillian . . .Two friendship-magnets wherever they roam . . Allendale’s loss is MA’s gain.
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Nice to be honored and recognized for their efforts while still active.
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An inspiration in every way. What a blessing it is to know and be friends with them.
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I’m going to miss them and I don’t even live in Allendale. I don’t know who I can give bird reports to at Acme now. Best wishes to them both.
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How these dear people will be missed in every way.
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just grand
Leave your comment
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10 comments
Chris archer
Hello Allendale,best wishes and a very Happy New Year to you all . Stiles and Lillian are not only going to be missed by their friends in Allendale but here also in England but our loss is Massachusetts gain ,here in England every new year the Queen has a honours list where the great and good receive medals,Knighthoods and in some cases Lordships so if they came to live in England we would be saying arise Lord and Lady Thomas .wishing them all the very best I know Patti and Jim Will miss them immensely great friends .
Ernie Vallorano
You will be missed!
Joan & Bert Rottkamp
God less you both.You have been such an inspiration to so many because of your friendliness,sense of humor and dedication to preserving the little bit of wilderness we have left for future generations to enjoy! THANk YOU!
COOX2
Stiles & Lillian . . .Two friendship-magnets wherever they roam . . A’Dale’s loss is MA’s gain.
COOX2
Stiles & Lillian . . .Two friendship-magnets wherever they roam . . Allendale’s loss is MA’s gain.
Joe K
Nice to be honored and recognized for their efforts while still active.
RF
An inspiration in every way. What a blessing it is to know and be friends with them.
julie
I’m going to miss them and I don’t even live in Allendale. I don’t know who I can give bird reports to at Acme now. Best wishes to them both.
sally
How these dear people will be missed in every way.
sally
just grand