Person Page - 405

"DURANT W. PASK, JR. AGE: 86 MORRISTOWN Durant W. Pask, Jr, 86, of Morristown, NJ died Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. He was born and raised in NYC. Durant attended Parson's School of Design where he received a degree in Fine Arts and also met his wife, Trudy. During WWII he served with the British intelligence in India. After the war ended he went back to NYC to start his career in Graphic Arts. Durant later had a second career working in security for local corporations in the Morris area until he retired from his last position as Chief of Security for Crum and Forster. In retirement he enjoyed gardening, creating a beautiful flower-filled landscape around his house with his best friend of many years, Gayle Young. Durant was predeceased by his wife, Trudy. Survivors include his son, Charles Pask, his wife Janice and their children Lauren and Steven of Ashley PA and Joanna and Diana Pask of Morristown, NJ. He is also survived by his brother Lawrence Pask. Durant was a good and loving father, husband and friend to many. The kind of person who appreciated the beauty of art and music and shared it with those around him. A private service will be held for the immediate family at the Presbyterian Church of Morristown. Those wishing to remember Durant may make a donation in his name to the Presbyterian Church of Morristown.^2,7"

Lawrence H. "Chic", age 86, of Ridgewood, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, January 21, 2012. Chic was born in Morristown, NJ, and had been a resident of Ridgewood for the past 55 years, where he raised his family with his beloved wife Marion. Through his career Chic had been a Traffic Manager for several companies in the trucking industry, but more recently was president and owner of Astro Express and L. Pask Associates in Ridgewood. Chic was the creator and president of the non-profit, Traffic Charities, that donated to several charitable organizations throughout the metropolitan area. Lawrence belonged to several transportation industry associations and was past president of the Traffic Club of North Jersey. He was also a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge and a Shriner. He will always be remembered for his generous, fun-loving personality and his passion for cooking, gardening and golf. Surviving are his children, Mark Pask and his wife Jan, Robin and her husband Jim Donkersloot and Lynn and her husband Dallas King. Chic also leaves his four grandchildren, James and Gregory (Heather) Pask and Logan and Emma King. He was pre-deceased by his wife of 65 years, Marion (Buysse) Pask on July 11, 2011. The Pask family will receive family and friends from 10 to 11 AM on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, followed by a service at 11 AM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Salaam Shrine Center of Livingston, (www.shrinershq. org/), 369 E. Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039.²

A pair of married motorcyclists are celebrating 65 years on the road together – but there was one card in the post they weren’t expecting.
Jessie and John Pask, of Hornchurch, were delighted to find daughter Betty had arranged for them to receive a letter from the Queen – who celebrated her own 65th wedding anniversary in November – on the big day.
"It certainly was a big surprise," said Jessie. "The card says: ‘It gives me great pleasure to send my best wishes to you for your 65th wedding anniversary. I hope your day will be filled with happy memories.’ And it will be."
The Pasks were married at St Mary’s Church, Dagenham, having met during evening classes at South East Essex Technical College in the area.
But the pair had quietly “spotted” each other while Jessie, now 85, worked at a nearby library.
"I used to see her in the library and I guess that’s where our paths crossed," said devoted John, now 86.
"I thought it would be nice to know her rather better than I did from the other side of the desk."
John, who was in the Air Force for much of the couple’s early relationship, said there was no great secret to their success.
"It’s different for everybody," he said. "I couldn’t imagine living any other way, or with any other person."
The couple moved to Great Nelmes Chase, Hornchurch, shortly after their children Robert and Betty – now 60 and 58 – were born.
"Initially it was just downstairs accommodation, but with room in the roof to expand it," remembered John. "In my spare time I built the upstairs."
The Ford engineer said they had bonded over a shared love of travel.
"We traversed the country on a motorbike,"he said. "on occasion Jessie drove it and I was a nervous pillion passenger. Our main interest was going to different places, and we still like to travel. We used to go to the Lake District – that was our type of holiday."
Jessie added: "We used to do a lot of walking, which is a bit curtailed now because I’m waiting for a knee replacement."
"We used to go cycling, too – we knew Essex within a 25-30 mile radius very well."
Just 20 when she wed, grandmother-of-seven Jessie says the key to a successful marriage is give and take.
"I was a child bride," she laughed. "I had to get permission from my parents."
"We give and take and we’re tolerant to each other."
"You have to have a sense of humour, too."⁵

A Hornchurch couple received a special letter from the Queen on the day they celebrated 70 years of marriage together.
Jessie and John Pask of Great Nelmes Chase, received the letter from the Queen on their platinum wedding anniversary on Wednesday, January 31.
John, now 91, met Jessie in Dagenham when he was studying to become an engineer at South East Essex Technical College in the area.
He told the Recorder: “I spent a lot of time studying in the library, and Jessie was working as a librarian there at the same time, and that’s how we met.
“We were really looking forward to Wednesday, though we’re thinking of getting together later in the year with the family.”
“Our family is scattered around quite a bit, and half of them live in New Zealand now.”
The Pasks were married at St Mary’s Church, Dagenham in 1947.
Jessie, now 90, guessed that they might be receiving a letter from the Queen, after their daughter Betty, arranged for them to receive one on their 65th wedding anniversary.
The card says: “It gives me great pleasure to send my best wishes to you for your 65th wedding anniversary. I hope your day will be filled with many happy memories.”
The couple moved to Great Nelmes Chase, shortly after their children Robert and Betty were born and have remained in Havering since 1956.
Jessie and John bonded over a shared love of travel.
They traversed the country on motorbike, with Jessie occasionally driving with John as a nervous pillion passenger.
Now the couple enjoy different hobbies. John likes to garden, while Jessie paints and together they like to complete puzzles.
“She does endless crosswords to keep her brain in tune, while I prefer to do Sudoku,” said John.
Jessie explained that the secret to their marriage is really quite simple.
“We think it’s very important to have a good sense of humour and just get on with life basically,” said Jessie.
John added: “Being the type of woman she is, it’s no problem.
“My wife always says that she takes and I give.”.⁶