Harold “Red” J. Ahern, 81, lifelong resident of Summit, died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, while vacationing in Singer Island, FL. 

The wake will be at the Paul Ippolito Summit Memorial, 7 Summit Avenue, on Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A funeral mass is scheduled at Saint Teresa of Avila Church, 306 Morris Avenue, Summit, on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 10:45 a.m. 

Mr. Ahern graduated from St. Teresa’s Parochial School (grades 1-8) in 1943 and then graduated from Summit High School in 1947, where he was a sports star in football, basketball and baseball and was named “Outstanding Athlete” his senior year. 

He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education in 1951 from Seton Hall University before being drafted into the US Army. In 1953, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, Company E, at Camp Breckinbridge, KY. 

He earned a Masters in Education from Saint John’s University in 1956, between semesters working at the Summit YMCA as a swim instructor and a Camp Cannundus counselor. 

The Summit Board of Education hired Mr. Ahern in 1956 as a driver and physical education instructor, and he added “coach” to his title by taking the reins of the Junior Varsity Football and Basketball teams.

He was also a longtime employee of the Summit Board of Recreation, umpiring baseball and running the summer playground program at Memorial Field and refereeing grade school basketball at Washington School in the winter. He retired from Summit High School in 1988, but continued on the sports scene as an umpire and referee.

His genealogy work for his family and friends led to his volunteering at the Summit Historical Society. He also volunteered helping several children at The School for the Handicapped in Millburn. 

He is survived by his wife of 54 years Therese (nee Donohue) of Summit; three daughters, Cathy Treco and her husband Doug of Arlington, MA, Eileen Ahern and her husband Tripp Edwards of Tunbridge, VT, and Mary Rose Mehorter and her husband John of Scotch Plains; and two sons, Harold M. Ahern and his wife Jacquie of Marlborough, MA, and Patrick J. Ahern of Pittsfield, MA. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Haley and Bridget Treco; Matthew and Jack Ahern; Brent Edwards; and Sam, Rebecca, Kelly and Robert Mehorter. 

He will be laid to rest in St. Teresa’s Cemetery, Summit. Donations in memory of Mr. Ahern may be made to The Summit Historical Society, 90 Butler Parkway, Summit, NJ 07901.