Secaucus Mourns Former DPW Supervisor John Dubiel

SECAUCUS, NJ — Many in Secaucus are mourning the untimely passing last week of John R. Dubiel, a man who ran the Department of Public Works for many years, and was a trusted friend and advisor in his retirement years.

Dubiel, age 64, of Secaucus, passed away on Monday, February 21, 2022. John was born June 23, 1957 to Lillian P. (Horst) Dubiel and the late John F. Dubiel.

He was a lifelong resident of Secaucus and a veteran of the National Guard. John was the superintendent of the Secaucus Department of Public Works for many years, which meant that he supervised the crews who pick up Secaucus' trash and recycling, remove snow and beautify the town, among the countless other duties of DPW.

Dubiel then became the superintendent of medical transportation for the town.

Dubiel and his beloved wife, Norma, lived on 9th Street and he was a respected pillar of the 9th Street community. Homeowners up and down the block recall that whenever there was a problem that needed solving, they knew who to turn to: John Dubiel.

"He helped me so much," said homeowner Samuel Dong. "People waiting for the bus were littering on my property and I told John and he said right away 'I'll take care of it.' The very next day there was a trash can on that corner."

"I was very sorry to hear of his passing. He will be missed," he added.

"John was a friendly neighbor. He was respected by the community," said Bob and Cathy Wolf. "Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time."

"John Dubiel was a nice guy in the truest sense of the phrase," said Councilman John Gerbasio. "He cared about the town and the residents. Always ready to help everyone. He will be missed."

And don't be fooled by his gentle, easy-going manner: John was also very witty and could crack an excellent one liner. He enjoyed following national politics, being out on his motorboat and vacationing with his wife in her native Puerto Rico. The couple actually had plans to retire in Puerto Rico before Dubiel fell ill with bone cancer.

Dubiel is survived by his mother, Lillian Pauline (Horst) Dubiel, who lives nearby. She and her son were very close, and she frequently visited his home. She was by her son's bedside every day in the last few months of his life.

His also survived by his wife Norma (Morales). John never had children of his own (although he would have been an excellent father), but he thought of her daughters as his own, recalled Norma through tears: Balmary Rainville and her husband Michael & Normelis Bido and her husband Odalis, plus grandchildren, Michael Jr., Davian, and Masen Rainville; Siblings, Frances Pein, Janice Smith and her husband Arnold, Kathleen Pein and her husband Aldwin, and Richard Dubiel and his wife Kara.

He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

John was pre-deceased by his father, John F. Dubiel, and his brother-in-law William Pein.

A visitation for John will be held Monday, February 28, 2022 from 4 to 9PM at Mack Memorial Home, 1245 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus, NJ 07094. A Mass of Christian Burial will occur Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 9:30 AM at Immaculate Concepton Church, Paterson Plank Rd, Secaucus, NJ 07094. Followed by his committal service at Holy Cross Cemetery, 340 Ridge Rd, North Arlington, NJ 07031.

In lieu of fllowers the Family asks that donations be made in his honor to The Sarcoma Foundation of America by mailing donation to PO Box 98160 Washington, DC 20090-8160 or donate by phone by calling 301-253-8687, option 2; or going to www.curesarcoma.org/donate/

From this Patch reporter: John, I will really miss you. You are one of the nicest men I have ever met. You were taken from this earth too early. Your kindness lives on in the many people whose lives you touched every day. If there is a heaven, you are there.

Here is Dubiel's obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.co...

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