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Library supporter Sydney Lockwood, 69
(by Tom Boud - June 30, 2008)
Sydney Charles Lockwood Jr., 69, died June 16.
A retired Passaic city teacher and principal, the borough resident more recently made his mark as a West Paterson Library trustee and a member of the Passaic County Historical Society.
Robert Lindsley, borough library director, said that Lockwood served on the institution's board of trustees from 2003 to 2005 and was board secretary.
"He wanted the library to become a major force in the community. He brought a lot of good ideas from his background as a school principal. He was very instrumental in putting up the time and temperature bulletin board outside."
Lindsley said Lockwood was a dedicated friend to the library.
"He always had a little joke, yet he was a very serious person. He was able to present his ideas in a very nice way."
Lockwood would meet with local council and business people as a library advocate, Lindsley said, adding that Lockwood had keen tact with people.
"He would have a finger on the pulse of the situation, and know when to push something or back off," Lindsley said.
Mayor Pat Lepore said Lockwood's road to library trusteeship began during a door-to-door mayor campaign visit. Lepore said the decedent voiced his interest in helping the community.
"Sid was just a wonderful, wonderful individual. He was very caring. He was always ready to lend a hand. He was one of the real nice guys in West Paterson. We're going to miss him."
Lepore said Lockwood brought many good suggestions through his library board involvement.
Lepore said Lockwood was well liked in West Paterson.
"I don't think there is a soul on this planet that would have anything bad to say about Sid."
Edward A. Smyk, Passaic County historian and close friend, said Lockwood was appointed to a Passaic County Historical Society trusteeship in 2004. He was reelected in 2007 for three years, but stepped down due to illness. He said Lockwood had a lot of initiative and was very active in raising funds for the organization.
According to Smyk, Lockwood had a passion for the past, particularly with the City of Passaic. Lockwood authored a book, "Passaic - The Glory In The Glass," about stained glass churches. He also wrote an essay entitled, "My Passaic Experiences," which appeared in a second book, "Climbing The Rainbow."
"Sid only had one agenda: history," Smyk said. "His face would light up when he talked about Passaic history. He would say, 'This building was here, and this is what I remember about that.' "
Smyk said he wrote a letter about Lockwood that was published in June 4 Herald News. The historian said he read the text to Lockwood by phone.
"I said in the letter how teachers can inspire young minds. I spoke to Sid about this, and he cried. He got me so emotional too."
Prior to retiring in 2001, Lockwood had been employed with the Passaic Board of Education for 40 years, first as an English and social studies teacher at Lincoln Middle School followed by a promotion to head teacher at Pulaski School No. 8, then becoming principal of Roosevelt School No. 10 and finally as principal of School No. 2.
He was honored with a Congressional Record, 107th Congress, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-8th) for his decades of service to Passaic schools. Lockwood was a parishioner of St. Bonaventure RC Church in Paterson where, he served as Eucharistic minister. He was a member of the Elks Club in Florida and the Passaic Historical Society.
Lockwood was predeceased by his son Sean Michael Lockwood.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Paula (nee Fuydal) of West Paterson; brothers Dr. Robert Lockwood and his wife Susan of Virginia and John Lockwood and his wife Elizabeth of Little Ferry; nieces Jill Conklin and Lauren Ralicki; and nephews Robert Lockwood and John Lockwood, Jr. Funeral arrangements were handled by Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, Clifton.
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