Elderly Priest Dies Week After Being Struck By Car

An elderly priest who was struck by a car while crossing over Franklin Avenue last week died Monday.

The Rev. John F. Heusser, 83, died from complications that stemmed from being hit by a motorist July 12 in Ridgewood, according to the Rev. Luis Rendon of St. Agnes Parish in Paterson.

"We lost a big man in this parish. This priest was the best gift from God. He was a sign of faith, justice and excellence," Rendon said of his colleague. 

Heusser was struck while walking to the Bergen County YWCA on Oak Street. Daily, he would take the bus into Ridgewood for exercise. 

"Oh he loved to go there every day. He left in the morning, 'I have go to the pool and exercise,'" Rendon said.

Crossing over Franklin Avenue from Oak Street, Heusser was struck by Lori Bandazian, 45, of Oakland, who was trying to pass a car, Ridgewood police said. 

Bandazian was issued a summons for careless driving, failure to stop for a pedestrian in cross walk, improper passing and failure to maintain a lane. According to police, Bandazian immediately pulled over and remained on the scene until Heusser departed in an ambulance.

Heusser sustained a head injury. At the hospital, Ridgewood Officer Colin Donnelly said, Heusser was in good spirits, and told Donnelly he wished he walked on the other side of the street as it was shadier.

According to his obituary, Heusser was born in Ridgewood Jan. 8, 1926. He graduated from Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary. In 1951, he was ordained at St. John's Cathedral in Paterson.

As a priest, Heusser served in Our Lady of Mercy RC Church in Whippany and St. Paul's RC Church, Clifton through 1962. For 22 years, Heusser worked as a missionary in Bolivia. Following his return to the United States in 1984, Heusser was a priest in Dover, Paterson and Wayne before joining Rendon at St. Agnes.

Heusser died at Hackensack University Medical Center.

He is survived by his sister, Mae Grant, of Hawthorne, and several nieces and nephews. Heusser was preceded in death by brother Thomas Heusser and sister Grace Ench.