30-Year Ridgewood Hospital Therapist, Father To School Board VP Dies

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Louis "Lou" Lembo, a 30-year respiratory therapist at The Valley Hospital and father to Ridgewood Board of Education Vice President Michael Lembo, passed away Saturday at age 79, his obituary published by Feeney Funeral Home said.

"Having to post this tears my heart apart," Michael Lembo said in a Facebook post sharing the obituary. "To my hero, my role model, my Dad, I can only say I'd give anything for five more minutes..."

Born in Paterson, Louis Lembo was a graduate of Ridgewood High School, and he and his wife Linda raised their family in Ridgewood, where he was a Graydon Pool lifeguard, and two-time Chair of the village charity Dads' Night. Lembo also volunteered on village beautification committee Project Pride and for the Parks and Recreation Department.

After Lembo retired from Valley Hospital, he enjoyed volunteering at the nonprofit housing organization Habitat for Humanity and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and all of the family dogs, his obituary said.