Marine Veteran Killed In Passaic Co. Hit-And-Run Crash Remembered As Longtime Coach

HAWTHORNE, NJ — Friends and family are preparing to say goodbye to Joseph Bender, the 83-year-old pedestrian whom officials say was killed last week after being hit by a pickup truck driver who fled the scene.

Bender, a lifetime resident of Hawthorne, is being remembered as a longtime baseball and softball coach in the community, and was connected to various social and service groups around his neighborhood. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corp and a member of St. Anthony's Church in Hawthorne, according to his obituary.

According to Browning-Forshay Funeral Home, a visitation and service are scheduled on Saturday, July 15 (more details below).

Witnesses said a gray-colored 2004 Ford F-150 with New Jersey license plate W73-MCN struck Bender in the area of Wagaraw Road and Passaic Street on June 29 and then fled the area, according to Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Hawthorne PD Chief James W. Knepper.

The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office and Hawthorne Police asked for the public's help identifying the driver of the pickup truck (pictured below) in connection with the crash, which police were alerted to at 8:46 p.m. that day. Officials have not released any updates as of Tuesday, July 4. Original article — Driver Sought In Fatal Hit-And-Run: Passaic County Prosecutor

According to Bender's obituary, he was active in Hawthorne youth sports as past president of the Hawthorne Recreation Association, and a coach for both boys' baseball and girls' softball. As well as being active with coaching local kids, Bender was involved in the Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus, and was a former member of the Hawthorne Elks according to his obituary.

Surviving Bender are his children Lisa Bender of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Joseph V. Bender of Sugar Loaf, New York; Lauren Bender of Ridgewood, and Christian Bender of Pequannock; his grandchildren Eliza, Georgia, and Joey Bender and Gianna, Carley, and Isabella Cumba; as well as Rae Ann (nee Lozzi) Bender of Pennsylvania, his "longtime friend" and former wife "who continued to share many happy times together with their four children and six grandchildren."

Bender was the brother of the late Marie Somers, and the brother-in-law of Marco Lozzi Nead, Edward Lozzi, Robyn Lozzi, Marie Bender Somers, and James Somers.

The visitation and service will be July 15, a Saturday. Cremation will be private. Friends may meet with his family during the visitation from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Browning-Forshay Funeral Home (557 Lafayette Ave., Hawthorne NJ 07506). A funeral service is at 3:30 p.m.

Memorial donations can be made to the Hawthorne Little League Association in lieu of flowers, the obituary said.