- Date Of Birth: January 26, 1923
- Date Of Death: February 6, 2015
- State: New Jersey
Edward F. Stefanik, 92, of Seaside Park, NJ died on Friday, February 6, 2015, at home in Seaside Park. He was born in Elizabeth, NJ, and moved to Seaside Park with his bride in 1945. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Gertrude M. “Pat” (Flynn) Stefanik, and his parents, Maciej Szczepanik and Veronica Gazda Szczepanik of Elizabeth, NJ.
He was also predeceased by his sisters: Helen Sobon of Rahway, NJ; Jean Sturko of Seaside Park, NJ; Wanda Redzinak of Toms River, NJ and Genevieve “Sis” Trojanowski of Toms River, NJ.
Surviving is his sister, Katherine Gill of Linden, NJ, and his daughters, Judy M. Stefanik of Seaside Park, NJ, and Linda K. Stefanik of Toms River, NJ, and nearly 100 nieces and nephews. He was one of the thousands of other patriotic young men who swarmed Times Square on December 8, 1941, to enlist after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps (Air Force) and was stationed in Georgia, Colorado, and Yakutat, Alaska, in the Northern Pacific Theater of Operations, serving as an Air Transport Technician. He held the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the American Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a founding member of Shore Boros American Legion Post 351, Seaside Heights, where he served as Adjutant. In November 2014 he attended, as an honored guest, the Grand Reopening of the Hurricane Sandy damaged Post, where he was recognized as a founding member and signatory of the charter and the longest-serving member of 69 years. In 1954 he became a member of the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad, Seaside Park, and rose through the ranks to serve as President. He remained active for 61 years, still as a Bingo volunteer. He was honored by Tri-Boro in 2011 for 57 years of service.
He was a former member of the Seaside Park Volunteer Fire Company. He was a boardwalk concessionaire in Seaside Park, owning and operating 5 stands until the devastating boardwalk fire of 1955. He was a proud member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 2018, Lakehurst, New Jersey until his retirement. His most rewarding work as a member was his years of service on the Apprentice Training Committee. During the years he worked on the construction of the Bomarc Missile Base, then McGuire AFB, Great Adventure, the Taj Mahal Hotel/Casino, and Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, where he continued to work during the maintenance shutdowns. He was a former Seaside Park Republican County Committeeman and a Past President of the Seaside Park Republican Club.
