Long Valley Honors Air Force Vet Lost To COVID-19

LONG VALLEY, NJ - He was a veteran, a husband, a father, wildlife enthusiast and Long Valley resident. But on April 23, Richard McLaren lost his battle with COVID-19 at the age of 86.

Washington Township Mayor Matt Murello honored McLaren at a meeting of the governing body, declaring Tuesday, which would have been McLaren's 87th birthday, he be named the Mayor of Washington Township for a day.

Murello noted that McLaren's family nicknamed him the mayor because he was socially active.

"He moved to Long Valley in 2018 and would take walks around town, waving at and talking to anyone he would see along the way," Murello said. "He loved Long Valley, thought the area was beautiful and would often comment about the wildlife, the trees, the sunsets and vast farm lands right in his backyard."

McLaren was born in 1933 and was a veteran of the Air Force, serving in the Korean War where he built airports and bases as a heavy machine operator. McLaren was married to his wife Patricia for almost 63 years.

Murello was able to present the proclamation to one of McLaren's two daughters, Lorraine Torralva Ronge.

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