Oradell's Doug Parcells Made A Difference In Kids' Lives

ORADELL, NJ — Doug Parcells was always there for his students and his players.

Parcells, the borough's longtime recreation director and brother of Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells, died Friday. He was 66.

Parcells was a lifelong Oradell resident and worked for 40 years in the borough's Recreation Department, starting at 16, including 31 as its director, according to a report on NorthJersey.com.

Oradell Mayor Dianne Didio called Parcells, "a coach, a mentor, a referee, a co-worker, and a friend," in the report.

The Doug Parcells Athletic Complex is named in his honor, a move Ken McGovern, who was chairman of recreation for 10 years with Parcells, called the move a "no-brainer," NorthJersey.com reported.

Parcells was a longtime teacher at Dater and Hubbard schools in Ramsey.

"He loved what he did, he loved the students and loved Ramsey Public Schools," said Dr. Matthew Murphy, district superintendent. "It is clear that he made a difference in the lives of our students. Many of our daily work lives and the students' school experience was better because of Doug Parcells."

Parcells started with the district in 1987. Murphy said that a former student told him Parcells always came to class with a smile, treated everyone fairly, and had a way to make you feel special.

Parcells always sought to "bring joy to the thousands of lives he touched throughout his career," his family said in his obituary.

Parcells was an athlete at the University of Virginia and combined his lifelong loves of sports and radio into a weekly spot on WOR radio's Saturday Morning Show.

A scholarship in Parcells' name will be established at Ramsey High School. Donations to the scholarship may be sent to the school at 256 East Main St., Ramsey, NJ 07446. Checks can be made out to Ramsey High School with Parcells' name in the memo line.

Parcells is survived by his wife, Joanna; children, Laura, and her husband, Adam, and Keri, and her husband, Adam; brother Bill; sister, Debbie; and grandchildren, Jack, Sam, Cameron, and Riley. He was predeceased by his brother, Don.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com