GOP Committeeman John T. Tiedemann, Former Parsippany Police Lt., Dies at 73

John T. Tiedemann of Lake Hiawatha died Monday after a long illness, with Judy, his wife of 49 years, at his side. According to a notice on the website of the Stephen J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service, he was 73 years old at the time of his death.

Born and raised in Union City, Tiedemann graduated from Stevens Academy in Hoboken. He briefly attended Hope College and then Jersey City State College, where he met his future wife. They married in 1964 and had three children. Tiedemann went on to earn a bachelor's degree in history, sociology and criminal justice at Bloomfield College. At graduation, he was recognized as  Outstanding Student of the Year from the sociology department.

Tiedemann joined the Parsippany Troy-Hills Police Department in 1966 and retired as a lieutenant in the Planning and Research Division in 1991. While on the force, he headed the Crime Prevention Unit and served as president of the area Police Benevolent Association. He worked to encourage the department to ensure that police recruits were college educated, fought for better pay and benefits for officers and started the first incarnation of the township's Stranger Danger program. He also worked to keep the department in the forefront of evolving law enforcement initiatives such as the emergency response and hostage negotiation teams, and he was instrumental in ensuring that Parsippany Police achieved its final national accreditation during his tenure.

Tiedemann earned a number of honors during his career, including the Parsippany Jaycees' Outstanding Parsippany Policeman award, the COCAP Distinguished Service Award and the Chief's Award, which he won during his time as a sergeant, for "outstanding and professional police work."

He was elected by his fellow residents in District 31 to serve on the Parsippany Republican Club and the Morris County Republican Committee. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Superior Officer's Association of the Parsippany PBA.

His family said that while he was proud to serve the community of Parsippany Troy-Hills, and proud to have his work acknowledged, by far his greatest pride came in winning the hand of the woman he called "the most beautiful girl in the world," his wife, Judy, and raising children who learned the importance of hard work and grew up to have full and happy lives. 

Tiedemann was preceded in death by his eldest child, Amy-Beth; his parents, Hertha and Fritz Tiedemann; and his in-laws, Walter and Rena Badaracco.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Badaracco Tiedemann; daughter Jill-Marie and her partner Janelle, of Santa Fe, N.M.; son Jon-David and his wife Michelle, of Bristow, Va.; and grandchildren Jessica, Charlie, Nicholas and Ashley.

Viewings will be held Thursday 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Stephen J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service, 60 N. Beverwyck Road. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 179 Baldwin Road. Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Badaracco-Tiedemann Scholarship Fund, PO Box 210, Lake Hiawatha, N.J. 07034.