East Rutherford police, firefighters mourn death of Deputy Chief Phil Taormina, 46

The East Rutherford police and fire departments are mourning the loss of one of their own.

Deputy Police Chief and former firefighter Phillip Taormina, 46, died Wednesday after a battle with cancer, according to an obituary and Chief of Police Dennis Rivelli.

“I’m losing more than a deputy chief, it’s my best friend,” Rivelli said.

Taormina served the East Rutherford Police Department since 1995, when he joined its patrol division. He was a former resident of the borough, but had been living in Pine Brook for 17 years, according to his obituary.

"Not only was he a true professional, but a true gentleman," said Mayor Jeffrey Lahullier. "He had a pretty good outlook on things."

Taormina remained on active duty up until his death, Lahullier said, describing a quick decline after first falling ill about two months ago, by the mayor's estimation.

“I don’t think it was any more than two-and-a-half weeks after his diagnosis and he was gone," Lahullier said. "Sometimes they say God is merciful and Phil is in a better place right now. I feel bad for his family but none of us wanted to see Phil suffer."

In addition to his service on the police force, Taormina worked as a firefighter in East Rutherford for 15 years, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant and secretary, the Borough Fire Department said in a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday night.

No details were released detailing the cause of the longtime civil servant's death. However, Rivelli said last week that Taormina had been diagnosed with liver cancer and was informed by doctors the outlook was not good.

At the time, he added that the department was in shambles over the news.

"It’s a loss to the borough, a loss to the residents and a loss to his loved ones," Lahullier said.

"We will always remember Deputy Chief Taormina for his 'family first' lifestyle, his dedication to his brothers and sisters in law enforcement, commitment to public safety, and his positive attitude," the fire department said in its post.

Alongside words of remembrance, the department shared a separate Facebook message that Taormina posted to his own social media profile on New Year's Day.

"Take some time to reflect on each of your blessings, appreciate them and don’t ever, ever take them for granted. Life changes in an instant," he wrote.

As the post continued, Taormina reminded his friends, coworkers and loved ones to be helpful because someone may need it, rather than for self-satisfaction, and to lead by example.

"With all the crap, nonsense, and negativity in this world today; identify and separate the things you can influence and control from those things you can’t," he continued. "Do what you can with what you have [every day] to influence and change the things you can for the better and don’t ever stress over the things you cannot control, it’s not productive or healthy."

Tommy Bonfiglio:Popular NJ restaurant owner Tommy Bonfiglio dies at 62

In his New Year's Day post, Taormina also wrote, "No matter how much you try, you cannot change or choose the cards you are dealt but you can choose how you play your hand."

But perhaps his post's most important maxim was in its middle: "Do good because the world needs more good these days."

This was not the first time tragedy struck the Taormina family, as Phillip's brother, Dennis Taormina Jr., died in the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Monday at Kimak Funeral Home, 425 Broad St., Carlstadt.

A procession for Taormina will depart from Kimak at 9 a.m. on Tuesday leading to a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Pius X R.C. Church, 24 Changebridge Rd., Montville.

Following the Mass, he will be entombed in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery at 225 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mayday Missions (Fund the First Taormina Strong) to help support his children’s education and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: East Rutherford mourns loss of deputy police chief Phillip Taormina