(Fanwood, NJ)–Robert Kruthers, who helped thousands of people as a member of the Fanwood Rescue Squad since 1957, died early on the morning of April 24, 2021, at Overlook Hospital. He was 94.

A Fanwood resident since 1954, Bob has provided volunteer service to our town in ways that have touched three generations of Fanwood and Scotch Plains residents.

Bob held many positions with the Rescue Squad. He served in several elected posts. He served as the squad’s treasurer since 1965, retiring from that position in 2017. He remained a trusted advisor and an inspiration to the rest of our volunteers until his passing.

As an EMT, first responder and ambulance driver, Bob helped literally thousands of sick or injured people with well over 5,000 call responses. He did so with humility and a sense of service to others.

Bob’s other passion for many years was the church. As a member of St. Bartholomew the Apostle parish in Scotch Plains, Bob lent assistance in keeping their books, taught CCD classes, provided altar service and, as a Eucharistic minister, offered communion for homebound people.  Bob was also active in the Knights of Columbus and as such was a fixture at the annual Shield Awards at which the Knights recognized first responders in Fanwood and Scotch Plains. Bob also spent four years as a member of the Fanwood Library Board of Trustees.

Bob was married to his wife, Grace, for 72 years. They knew each other since they were age 7 and lived next door to each other in Jersey City.

In 2017, Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr and the Borough Council honored Bob for his 60 years of service. He was recognized several times by the Mayor and Council for his volunteer service. Bob was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the New Jersey Statewide EMS Conference in 2014.

In addition to his beloved wife Grace, Bob is survived by two daughters, three grandsons and a great grandson.. Our thoughts are with them. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The unique and colorful front doors of Fanwood homes form the basis of an art project benefitting the Fanwood Rescue Squad in a fundraiser by local real estate agents.

A poster called The Doors of Fanwood, showing the front doors of 20 Fanwood homes, is being sold by Coldwell Banker Realty, Westfield West Office, for $20 each. One-hundred percent of the money raised will go to the Rescue Squad.

Westfield West Branch Vice President George Kraus had the idea of producing the limited edition poster to be sold as a fundraiser after he and his agents were inspired by the dedication of volunteer first responders during the COVID pandemic. A committee of sales agents who live in or are from Fanwood volunteered to identify a collection of residential doors that were representative of Fanwood’s architecturally diverse neighborhoods, as well as those that had unique characteristics or historical significance. With the help of Diana Chaves, Pat Plante, and Jill Skibinsky, the doors were identified, and those homeowners were contacted to discuss the project. We are deeply grateful for the many homeowners who graciously agreed to be included.

A donation of $20 will buy one of the 18” x 24” color posters, suitable for framing. To order, please call the Coldwell Banker Westfield West office at (908) 233-0065 or stop by the office located at 600 North Avenue West in Westfield, Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM. Acceptable forms of payment are cash, check, and Venmo.

Other posters available are Cranford, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, and Westfield, with 100% of those net proceeds supporting their respective Rescue Squads.