Community Mourns Sudden Death Of Fanwood Borough Employee

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ — The Scotch Plains and Fanwood community is mourning the sudden death of Kenneth P. Blom "Ken", 59, of Scotch Plains.

Blum, who worked with the Fanwood Department of Public Works for the past 20 years, died on Easter Sunday.

"Ken was a fixture at many Fanwood events which he helped make possible through his friendly professionalism. He staged a demonstration of the Borough's bucket truck at the annual Arbor Day observance, among many other activities. Ken will be sorely missed," according to Fanwood, NJ.

Born in Jackson Heights, New York, Blum moved to Fanwood in 1973 with his family and settled to Scotch Plains in 1988.

Growing up in Fanwood, Blum played FYO Baseball. He was a 1980 graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and was a member of the Bowling Team. Ken also attended Union County VoTech for automotive mechanics.

Blum loved boating, fishing, demolition derby and tow truck drag racing in Englishtown. Most of all Blum loved spending time with all of his family, especially at Woodcliff Park, according to his obituary on therossifuneralhome.com.

Blum was predeceased by his mother Sheila Ann Blom in 2019. He is survived by his wife of 32 years Lisa A. ( nee Urciuoli), daughters Kelly and Rachel and fiancé Dennis Schmeiler, father Albert J. Blom, granddaughter Anastasia, siblings Chris and wife Kathy, Stacy A. Blaes and husband Bob, Coleen A. Benwell and husband Rob, Terry A Cardenas and husband Dave, sister-in-law Paula Green and brother-in-law Richard Urciuoli and wife Kathy. He is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on April 12 at 10 a.m. at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church in Scotch Plains. A visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 11 at the Rossi Funeral Home, 1937 Westfield Ave., Scotch Plains.

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