BOONTON — Cyril “Cy” Wekilsky of Boonton passed away on July 13, 2026. He was 89 years old.
Born Krum Cyril Wekilsky on March 26, 1937, in Tehran, Iran, Wekilsky came to the United States at the age of 16. He graduated from Plainfield High School and went on to study engineering at the Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Missouri. After a brief time in Rolla, he traveled to Europe, where he studied German and met the love of his life, Synnove, in Bad Reichenhall, Germany.
The couple moved to Synnove’s native Norway, where they were married in 1963 before embarking on an ocean voyage to begin their life together in America. They were welcomed to New Jersey by Wekilsky’s sister, Dorothy Slover, and her husband, Dick Slover. Their son, Eric, was born the following year, followed four years later by their daughter, Christine.
While raising his young family, Wekilsky pursued higher education and graduated from Rutgers University in 1972 with a degree in chemistry, accompanied at commencement by his wife and children.
Wekilsky enjoyed a distinguished career in the chemical industry, working for Drew Chemical, Allied Chemical, American Cyanamid and Cytec Industries, taking him across the globe. Later, he and his longtime friend and colleague, Al Rosa, founded Rosa Technologies, through which Wekilsky continued traveling and working well into his eighties.
Although his adventures led him around the world, Boonton was always home. It was the community he loved, the place where he built his life, and the town he devoted himself to serving.
Wekilsky’s commitment to Boonton spanned more than five decades. Beginning in 1973, he volunteered with Boonton and Mountain Lakes Baseball and Football Grayhawk Football, the Boy Scouts of America as a Scoutmaster, Boonton and Mountain Lakes Baseball, and the Boonton Board of Education. He was also a charter member of the Tri-Town Kiwanis Club. When asked why he devoted so much of his time to public service, he would simply say, “I’d rather be part of the solution than the problem.”
In 1980, he became president of the Boonton Board of Education. His dedication to the community led him to serve as a Boonton alderman, mayor of Boonton, and again as Boonton councilman, positions he held from 1988 until 2026. Throughout his years of service, Wekilsky also served as a Boonton Fire Department commissioner and contributed his leadership and expertise to numerous organizations and boards, including the Planning Board, Zoning Board, Boonton Police Department and Kiwanis Ambulance, among many others.
Few sights were more familiar around town than Wekilsky in his white truck, wearing his trademark denim shirt, jeans and baseball cap. His presence, wisdom and unwavering commitment to his community will be deeply missed.
Above all else, Wekilsky was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He expressed his love through action, generosity and steadfast support, enriching the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know him.
Wekilsky was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Synnove Wekilsky.
He is survived by his son, Eric Wekilsky (Della); daughter, Christine (Neil); grandsons, Zachary (Catherine) and Nicholas (Brenna); sister, Dorothy Slover; and several cherished nieces and nephews.
A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, July 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Codey and Mackey Funeral Home of Boonton, 107 Essex Avenue, Boonton. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Boonton United Methodist Church, Vreeland Avenue and Lathrop Avenue, Boonton. Reflections and a celebration of his life will follow at the Boonton Fire House, 311 Boonton Avenue, Boonton. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Boonton Fire Department. To share condolences and memories with the family, visit Codey and Mackey Funeral Home’s website.
