James M. Ransom

James Maxwell Ransom, 88, of Westwood, N.J., died on May 11.

He was the father of Elaine McClure of Newtown, and grandfather of Brittany, Laura, and Jeffrey McClure.

He is also survived by a son, Keith Ransom of Yardley, Penn.; another daughter, Adele Brown of Vancouver, Wash.; and four other grandchildren, Julia and Ryan Ransom, and Mary French and Elizabeth Brown.

He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Ada, last October.

Mr Ransom was a resident of Westwood since 1949, and served as president of the Westwood Public Library Board of Trustees from 1995 until his death. He had served on the library board for 22 years. He was a member of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and a past member of the Westwood Regional School Board and the Westwood Recreation Commission. He was also a past president of the Pascack Valley Historical Society and Bergen County Historical Society.

Mr Ransom was the past borough of Westwood historian and wrote many historical articles on NJ. He was the author of Vanishing Ironworks of the Ramapos,  published by Rutgers in 1966. He often gave lectures on the ironworks, railroads,  local history.

Retiring in 1975, Mr Ransom was vice president of the Harris Bank, running the municipal bond trading desk in New York City.

Mr Ransom was a hiker in his early days, which led to his love of history. Later in life, he was an avid sports fan, attending countless high school games. Mr Ransom also enjoyed dancing with his wife, Ada, at the New Jersey shore each summer. He was a duplicate and social bridge player until his death.

The funeral service was held May 17 at the Park Ridge United Methodist Church, 130 Berthoud Street, Park Ridge, N.J. Interment was in Westwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Mr Ransom would want you to spend money doing something special with your own family or friends and think of him.

The Robert Spearing Funeral Home, Inc., 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, N.J., was in charge of arrangements

The Newtown Bee         May 19, 2000