Accomplished Fair Lawn Artist Dies After Fall From Roof

A Fair Lawn man inspecting his roof for storm-damage slipped and fell to his death Tuesday, Fair Lawn Police Sgt. Richard Schultz confirmed.

Rafi Chehirian, 59, of Saddle River Road, had climbed a ladder to his roof to check for storm-related damage when he apparently lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Polce arrived to the scene around 1 p.m., where they found Chehirian motionless on the ground in his backyard.

Officers applied first aid with assistance from Valley Hospital paramedics and the Fair Lawn Ambulance Squad.

Despite their efforts, Chehirian succumbed to his injuries.

Chehirian was an accomplished artist who specialized in a process called Verre Eglomise, or reverse painting on glass. Some of his work is displayed on his website. 

In November, his craft work will be on display at the 35th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. 

Chehirian was chosen as one of "195 of the finest and most dynamic craft artists in the United States, selected from more than 1,400 applicants," according to the art craft show website. 

The incident is Fair Lawn's lone storm-related death.