South River man proposes at Milltown parade

Amy Kozak's 6-year-old brother — clearly eager for a brother-in-law — had tried using dandelions to propose marriage on behalf of Kozak's boyfriend. Wednesday, on her favorite holiday and with her great-uncle serving as grand marshal of the borough's parade, Jack Ryan Kozak played his part in the real deal.

Under inflatable palm trees on the back of the Good Day Preschool and Kindergarten float, Jack held up a fluorescent-orange sign that read, "Ryan wants to know if you will marry him."
Before Kozak, 22, could urge him to quit his silliness, her boyfriend Ryan Pfaff, 25, popped from the passenger's side of the float-carrying truck in a charcoal pinstripe suit.
"What?" Kozak said, looking around for some help interpreting events.

Before Kozak could process the moment, Pfaff fell to a knee and presented her with a diamond engagement ring.
Kozak held her left hand to her heart for several seconds before offering her finger. And a kiss. And a hug.
A crowd of family, friends and strangers applauded.
"I've been planning this for two weeks," said Pfaff, a South River resident who plans to return to school and become a grade-school teacher. "It worked out perfectly."
Minutes afterward, Kozak, a recent graduate of Rowan University with a sociology degree, continued with sporadic success to fully take in what had happened.
"Surprised," she said of her emotions. "Shocked. Happy."
Pfaff said Kozak, a Milltown resident, loves Independence Day because her whole family gets together. And this year's parade was special because her great-uncle, Carl Hermann, rode as grand marshal.
The couple, who have been dating for three years, posed for pictures. Kozak showed off her ring with an unsteady hand.
"You're lucky I didn't pass out," she said to her fiance.