Mr. Harry N. Fengya Jr. This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. NorthJersey.com - Local Obituaries

   www.bergen.com/page.php?level_ - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/25/2002   Last Visited: 4/26/2002

   Harry N. Fengya Jr., ex-Clifton judge NorthJersey.com - Local Obituaries
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   Harry N. Fengya Jr., ex-Clifton judge
   
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   Former Clifton Municipal Court Judge Harry N. Fengya Jr., who retired last year after 25 years of often colorful service on the bench, died Tuesday.
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   Mr. Fengya, whose hard-nosed nickname, "Hangin' Harry," was bestowed on him many years ago by a newsman, said in a 2001 interview that he always felt he was doing a service in the city.
   
   His tough style on the bench earned him both renown and notoriety: He would fine a lawyer if he was late, fine someone for filing frivolous charges, fine a mother whose children spread head lice to other kids, or fine someone for wearing shorts or other "inappropriate" attire in his courtroom.
   
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   But there was so much more to Mr. Fengya than just his life in court. After a young adulthood filled with adventure, he settled into energetic involvement for decades in community and cultural groups in and about Clifton.
   
   Mr. Fengya was born in Garfield and his family moved to the Botany Village section of Clifton in 1937.
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   With trainers like that, Mr. Fengya progressed so well that he became welterweight champion of the Coast Guard. After that, he boxed in the New Jersey Golden Gloves tournament and also tried out with the New York Giants baseball team. He was offered a contract with its farm team in Peekskill, N.Y., but did not accept it.
   
   Instead, he attended the University of Cincinnati Law School, where he graduated in 1952. His legal career included serving with the Clifton Board of Adjustment for five years, as counsel to the Passaic County Park Commission for two years, as assistant Passaic County counsel for two years, and as acting county counsel for one year.
   
   Mr. Fengya and his wife, Ruth, had a daughter, Connie Sue Fengya-Strauss of Tinton Falls.
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   Mr. Fengya, who also had a flair for entertainment, was a member of the Essex Skating Club. He and his daughter performed in many ice skating shows, including events at the South Mountain Arena in West Orange. Mr. Fengya also was an actor with Studio Players of Essex County and played clarinet in a studio band.
   
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   That phrase has been bantered about, but for Harry Fengya, it fits."
   
   He was a member of the Clifton Lawyers Club, Clifton Masonic Lodge 203, the Shriners Club, the Clifton Deriter Club, Quentin Roosevelt American Legion Post 8, the Italian-American Family Association of Clifton, and Clifton Elks Lodge 1569.
   
   Besides his wife, to whom he was married for almost 50 years, and daughter, Mr. Fengya is survived by a grandson, Randy Strauss.