Page last updated on:
24 July 2009
History of the Bergen Chapter
The first attempt of forming the Bergen Chapter was on May 28, 1931. At that time, five councils comprised the charter members of the Chapter. They were: St. John's Council 1345, Bergenfield, Ridgewood Council 1736, Ridgewood, St. Thomas More Council 2188, Westwood, Corpus Christi Council 2448, Hasbrouck Heights, and Chief Justice White Council 2586, Teaneck.
Three Knights served as Chairman from 1931 to 1934. They were: Felix P. Schuellein, DD (1931-1932), Julian A. Sohon, PGK (1932-1933), and Martin V. Merritt, DD (1933-1934).
Nothing is known of why the Bergen Chapter ceased to exist after 1934. But it would be 14 years before the Chapter would be revived in its present form on March 12, 1948. Jules Hamell, of Sacred Heart Council 2842, Rochelle Park, became the first Chairman of the revived Chapter. Since that time, 39 other Knights from 20 councils have served as Chairman, leading the Chapter in its continuing mission to provide aid to those Brother Knights in distress.
2008 marked the 60th anniversary of the Chapter. In honor of this occasion, the Chapter teamed with its brother organization from Bergen County, the Bergen Federation, which was honoring its 25th anniversary, in holding a joint anniversary dinner on April 19th. The anniversary dinner went so well, that that two organizations held a joint Kickoff Dinner on September 26, 2008.
Today, the Chapter consists of 20 of the 44 Bergen County councils. Its Welfare Committee has distributed tens of thousands of dollars to brother Knights and the Death Benefit Fund provides a cushion of support to brother Knights and their families in their time of loss.
For further information on the Welfare Committee or the Death Benefit Fund, please click the link below.
Welfare Committee Death Benefit Fund
The Chapter is always interested in having more of its Bergen County Brothers join us. If a council would like more information on joining the Chapter, or a presentation on the Bergen Chapter made at their meeting, please contact us using the "Contact Us" link in the left column.