Frederick H Graf

Frederick H. Graf of Mahwah, New Jersey, passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Fred leaves behind a legacy defined by service, adventure, humor, loyalty, and deep devotion to his family and community. To those who knew him, Fred will be remembered for his inviting smile, his kind and steady presence, and his natural ability to connect with people. He made others feel comfortable, valued, and at ease — whether they were lifelong friends, neighbors, children on his bus route, or people he had just met.

Fred’s greatest gift was the way he served people not only through his work, but also through his presence. He listened without judgment, made people laugh, offered quiet reassurance, and had a natural way of making others feel seen, respected, and welcomed.

Born and raised in Emerson, New Jersey, Fred later made his home in Mahwah, where he lived for more than 40 years. He built a distinguished career with the Upper Saddle River Police Department and was a proud member of PBA Local 218. Over 25 years of dedicated service, he rose through the ranks to become Sergeant before retiring in 1991. His career in law enforcement reflected the values that guided his life: duty, courage, fairness, loyalty, and service to others.

Following his retirement from law enforcement, Fred continued to serve his community as a bus driver for the Mahwah Board of Education for 16 years and later for First Student in Duxbury, Vermont. Whether wearing a police uniform, driving a school bus, lending a hand to a neighbor, or offering guidance to a young person, Fred found purpose in helping others.

After his years in New Jersey, Fred retired to South Duxbury, Vermont, where he spent the next 18 years embracing the outdoor life he loved so dearly. A true outdoorsman, he found joy in fishing, hiking, camping, caring for horses, and working his land. He especially loved working with his tractor, a machine that quickly became one of his favorite companions and a source of endless family jokes.

Fred met the love of his life, Kathleen, through the Imperial Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, where their lifelong romance first began. Their shared love of music, performance, and community became an important part of their life together. Later, Fred and Kathleen helped create the Ramapo Valley Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, building cherished memories and lifelong friendships through music, mentorship, and community.

A man of many passions, Fred also loved auto racing. He built a race car alongside his eldest son, sparking a lifelong family passion for stock car racing. Never one to sit still, Fred helped found Bethel Motor Speedway, bringing racing back to a wonderful community in Sullivan County, New York. The speedway became more than a racetrack; it became a gathering place, a proving ground, and part of the Graf family legacy. Fred was especially proud of the youth program at Bethel Motor Speedway, which helped introduce young drivers to the sport and helped launch several drivers into NASCAR, including his own grandson.

Camping was another treasured family tradition. Fred proudly took his family on countless trips up and down the East Coast, creating memories that will be cherished for generations. For Fred, family was not something spoken about casually — it was something lived every day through time, sacrifice, laughter, and shared experiences.

Fred was a history buff, a gifted storyteller, and a man who could meet almost any situation with humor, strength, and perspective. He carried himself with quiet strength and steady confidence, yet those closest to him knew the depth of his warmth, empathy, tenderness, and love. His grandchildren were especially blessed by these qualities. Through his stories, humor, patience, and steady presence, he gave them memories to cherish and lessons to carry forward — lessons in resilience, kindness, loyalty, and how to meet life with perspective and a smile. He treated friends like family, strangers like neighbors, and family as the center of his world.

Frederick was a loving husband of the late Kathleen Graf (Romer) and father who is survived by his children - Frederick( Lisa) Graf, Justine Jones, Joseph (Nancy) Graf, Richard Graf ( deceased) Kevin Graf; Kathleen Ann Graf; April (Roy) Radican, many adored nieces, nephews, cousins, and 19 grandchildren - Kyle Graf, Gwenyth Herdman, Owen Jones, Erik Jones, Joseph Graf, Andreah Graf, Ryan Graf, Christopher Graf, Kevin Graf, Shawn Graf, Aidan Marshall, Cameron Marshall, Emma Marshall, Henry Marshall, James Marshall, Aaron Marshall, Colin Radican, Nicole Radican,  Ava Radican, and 2 great grandchildren Everett Gunnar Graf, and Lucy Elizabeth Herdman. He was the brother of the late Ann Marie Ostrowski.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, New Jersey.

A funeral service is planned for Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 96 East Allendale Road, Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, New Jersey.

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