Hillsborough Sgt. Loved Coaching His Son's Baseball Teams, Rooting For Yankees

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The Hillsborough Police Sergeant and father of two, who died suddenly of a heart attack this weekend, was loved by all.

"Everyone knows Fred," is what his family would often hear from others.

Frederick Robert Wacker III, 43 died on Saturday Nov. 19, 2016 from an apparent heart attack in his home.

He leaves behind his wife Jen and two sons, 10-year-old Jeremy and 7-year-old Dominic.

Wacker, who served on the Hillsborough Police Department for the past 18 years, loved coaching his son’s teams in the Montgomery Baseball League. He also liked rooting for the NY Yankees and eating good food.

He was born in Livingston and grew up in Roselle Park and had lived in Cranford before settling in Montgomery in 2007.

He received his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and his master’s degree from Boston University.

He began his career at the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and then worked for the Hillsborough Township Police Department where he was a sergeant.

During his career in Hillsborough, he was the recipient of 14 commendations of exemplary police service. Included among these was an award for his role in the apprehension of armed homicide suspects. He also received 34 letters of gratitude from the public he served, according to Hillsborough Chief of Police Darren Powell.

"Personally, Sgt. Wacker will be remembered by his colleagues as an exceptional police officer and loyal friend. Most importantly he will be remembered as a devoted father and husband," Powell said.

Fred was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Skillman, the Somerset County CART (collision analysis reconstruction team), and the Traffic Officers Association of Central and West Jersey.

Surviving are his wife of 15 years Jennifer (Garthwaite), his sons Jeremy and Dominic, his parents Frederick and Deborah Wacker Jr. of Roselle Park, his paternal grandmother Josephine Wacker of Forked River and his maternal grandmother Grace LaMonaco of Roselle Park.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. in St. Charles Borromeo Church, 47 Skillman Rd., Skillman. Burial will follow in Rocky Hill Cemetery. Visiting for family and friends will be Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Hillsborough Funeral Home, 796 US Hwy 206, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hillsborough PBA 205 to be used for the education of Fred’s sons, Jeremy and Dominic.

To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Frederick Robert Wacker III, please visit ourTribute Store.

(Image via Hillsborough Funeral Home)

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