Stanley Joseph Grabowy
Short Hills
Stanley ("Stan", "Stas",) Joseph Grabowy, passed away peacefully at his home in Short Hills, on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, the 69th anniversary of his marriage to Sophia (nee Potomski) who pre-deceased him. Born in Newark, Stan was a longtime resident of Short Hills, where he and his wife raised 5 children. Stan attended St. Stanislaus elementary school in Newark and was a lifetime member and staunch supporter of St. Stanislaus Parish where he was a trustee, usher and active coordinator of many social gatherings throughout his tenure. He graduated from Central High School and Essex County Vocational School in Newark majoring in the Technical Industrial Electrical program, where he built an early working television set as part of his curriculum. While at Essex County Vocational School, he garnered recommendations from his instructors to gain employment as an electrical technician at Westinghouse Electric Company in Newark. At Westinghouse, he advanced to Manufacturing Engineer and then Production Manager for a product line of electrical meters, some of which were installed at Westinghouse Nuclear Energy Generator facilities. Stan retired from Westinghouse in 1981. During World War II, Stan was an Aviation Cadet at the Army Air Forces Pre-Flight School at Maxwell Field, Alabama. He then enrolled at Officer Candidate School in the Army Air Forces Technical Training Command School at Yale University in New Haven Connecticut for first and second echelon armament in 1944 and was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant. He did further training in aviation ordinance at the Army Air Forces bases in Georgia, Mississippi and Texas in 1945.
Stan will be remembered by those who knew him for his gregarious personality, active participation and leadership in the Polish community, linguistic acumen and intellectual curiosity. Volunteer work was a major part of Stan's everyday life as he was committed to helping others. He founded along with his best friend Edmund Hemmerling and continued as active trustee and leader in fundraising for the Polish Cultural Foundation in Clark. He will be remembered fondly as the bi-lingual emcee of many social and cultural events in the Polish-American community in the greater Newark area. One memorable event was the 1964 May 3rd celebration at the Polish Falcons Nest 17 in Newark, where he planned and hosted an event that included a tribute to the memory of President John F. Kennedy and primary guest speaker Dr. Zbigniew Brezinski.
Stan was predeceased by his wife, Sophia M. Grabowy (nee Potomski) and daughter, Barbara J. Grabowy. He is survived by his children, son, Richard S. Grabowy and his wife Constance of Harvard, MA; son, Stanley D. Grabowy and his wife Bernadette of Basking Ridge; his daughter, Marion S. Grabowy, M.D. and her husband Francisco Ferrer-Rivera, M.D. of Wallingford, CT; his son, Thaddeus J. Grabowy, M.D. and his wife Kathryn of Rumson; his grandchildren, Grace, Christian, Caroline, Julia, Nicholas G., Nicholas R., Theresa, Thaddeus (T.J.), Alexandra, Camille, Kathryn, Genevieve, Christina and Thomas; and a host of extended family members, including nieces and nephews.
Friends and family are respectfully invited to attend his wake on Friday, June 28, 2013 during the hours of 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Laskowski (Union) Funeral Home, 1600 Stuyvesant Ave., Union. On Saturday. June 29, there will be a funeral at 9 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a mass at 10 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Church, Irving Turner Blvd., Newark and entombment at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington. In lieu of flowers, donations in Stan's memory may be made to the Polish Cultural Foundation, 177 Broadway, Clark, NJ.
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Published in Asbury Park Press on June 28, 2013
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