Victim in Mills Reservation accident identified as Paterson firefighter

By ERIN ROLL
roll@montclairlocal.news

The man who died after falling over a cliff at Mills Reservation on Monday has been identified.

Kerry Rivera, 49, a Wayne resident, was a firefighter for the Paterson Fire Department, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Tuesday.

The department posted a tribute message on its Facebook page. “Kerry Rivera never wavered in his commitment to keeping our city safe, and since 2003 put himself between danger and the residents he bravely protected countless times. As proud as he was to serve as a member of the Paterson Firefighters Association, he was even prouder to be a husband and father to two beautiful children,” the message stated. “As is the tradition in the fire service, his family is our family, and we will do all that we can to comfort them at this difficult time.”

Rivera is survived by his wife, Rena, and their three children: Elijah, Ezra and Eden.

Friends of the Riveras established a GoFundMe account on Tuesday to help the family with their expenses. As of Wednesday morning, the campaign had raised $6,062 of its $25,000 goal.

Authorities say that Rivera and his brother were mountain biking in Mills Reservation on Monday when Rivera lost control of his bike and fell over the edge of a cliff overlooking Old Quarry Road. The incident is under investigation at this time, though the fall is believed to have been an accident.

A friend of the Rivera family has created a GoFundMe page to support Rivera's family; the campaign had raised more than $4,000 as of Tuesday night.

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