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NEW JERSEY COPS ■ FEBRUARY 2014
The Gift that Keeps Giving
Retired Toms River police detective Walter Herman keeps quite
busy in retirement. Between an active family life and constant
house projects, the 59-year-old was preparing for the adventure
of a lifetime – a 1,500 mile bicycle ride in memory of former police
detective Mark Catalano, who passed away before he could complete his dream bicycle journey from New Jersey to Key West.
Since his passing in 2011, a group of dedicated officers has kept
Catalano’s memory alive by taking the bicycle ride in his honor
(www.crazyguyonabicycle.com).
Herman wanted to join the riders this past summer. Although
he hadn’t been on a bicycle in 20 years, he began training. This,
coupled with previous lap band surgery which had helped him
lose 70 pounds, was prepping him for the adventure of a lifetime.
“I had been wanting to take this trip for two years,” Herman
says. “I couldn’t wait.”
But he soon discovered he might have to.
In 2008, as part of DEBORAH Heart and Lung Center’s “A Gift
from Captain Buscio” program, designed specifically for police
officers and firefighters, Herman came to the hospital for a full
screening work-up. Much to his surprise, he had 90-percent
blockage in his right coronary artery and needed a stent. AfterCONTINUED ON PAGE 69