B-47 Bomber Mechanic, 30-Year Teacher Who Lived In Wyckoff Died

WYCKOFF, NJ — A former Wyckoff resident who served four years as a B-47 bomber mechanic in the U.S. Air Force, and received the Governor's Teacher Recognition award at Ridgewood High School in 1988, died last week at age 88, his obituary published by Chandler Funeral Home said.

Robert "Bob" Tracy, an Otisfield, Maine, resident, died on Oct. 12. Born in 1934, he taught French for 30 years at Ridgewood High School, and for 23 years, he was coordinator of the Ridgewood High School Language Lab. He was also called on three times to serve as acting chair of the World Languages Department, his obituary said.

A self-taught computer programmer, Tracy created some 30 programs in Commodore BASIC (Beginner's All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) for French students at Ridgewood High School. Also, as a teacher of Advanced Placement French, he served several years as a College Board consultant and as a reader for the AP French Exam, his obituary added.

While in Maine, Tracy was a former volunteer firefighter, a historical society member, and a 14-year member of the directorial board for an environmental health service. In 1959, he was also a marshal of the first graduating class of the University of Maine, his obituary said. .

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, June, whom he remembered fondly as "My June" and whom he shared many road trips with, often aboard touring motorcycles. He enjoyed photography, computers, hunting, and working with his hands, whether on machines or with wood, the obituary said.