Herbert James Cannon

Herbert James Cannon

Former Chatham Borough Engineer

Herbert James Cannon, a sixty year resident of Chatham passed peacefully at his home surrounded by his five children and grandchildren on Wednesday, September 6 he was 87 years old.

Born in St. Mary’s Hospital in Orange, New Jersey, Herb was the oldest of four boys and grew up in Livingston where his family had a dairy farm. During the holidays local residents would come to the farm and listen to carols being broadcast across the valley. Herb would take them on horse and wagon rides with hot cider through the streets of Livingston and up and down Mt. Pleasant Avenue. He was an avid horseman and was once clocked riding his horse Tony down Route 10 at 30 mph.

Herb and his wife Jean married in 1954 and moved from Bloomfield to Chatham in 1958 where they raised their children. He became the Borough Engineer and served faithfully in that position for 30 Years. Dedicated to giving back to his community to the fullest, Herb became a lifelong member of the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department on Engine Company Two and served the department as Secretary and Treasurer. He was also a member of the Chatham Planning Board. His passion for protecting the pristine Chatham water from contamination led him to serve on the Passaic River Coalition as Secretary and Vice Chairman, and the Passaic Valley Ground Water Protection Committee as Chairman. These bodies drafted the Model Municipal Well Head Protection Ordinance in 2004 as a path for protection of existing and future water supplies. He received an award honoring his commitment to the preservation of drinking water recharge zones and conservation from the State of New Jersey.

Herb was predeceased by his wife Jean A. Cannon and his two brothers, Peter and John (Jack) Cannon. Surviving are his brother Gerald Cannon of Point Pleasant and his five children, David, Nancy, James, Catherine, and Beth. He also had nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren, five nieces and three nephews.

Visiting hours are Tuesday, September 12, from 2-4 pm and 7-9pm at Bradley Funeral Home on Main Street, Chatham, New Jersey. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Patrick’s in Chatham on Wednesday Sept. 13, 2017 at 10:00 AM. Reverend Monsignor John Carroll will officiate. Burial will be at St. Vincent’s Cemetery in Madison, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Chatham Borough Fire Department, or Atlantic Home Care & Hospice, 465 South St. Morristown, NJ 07960