Atty. Ernest J. Gazda Jr.

1941 - 2022

Ernest J. Gazda Jr. died peacefully Friday morning, Sept. 30, at his home in Taylor, Pa., after a long illness.

Born in Scranton on May 7, 1941, to Attorney Ernest J. Gazda Sr. and Helen Slominski Gazda, he attended the Taylor public schools, graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1958. After a year of prep school at Blair Academy, he earned a BA from Marietta College in 1963. In college he was elected sophomore class president and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He attended Cornell Law School and, after earning his JD in 1966, he joined his father's law firm in Scranton (Gazda and Cottone, then Gazda and Penetar). At that time he also enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, 109th Infantry. He was a member of the Lackawanna Bar Association, served as assistant district attorney and as honorary co-chair of the LBA Interfaith Prayer Service, which presented him with an award in May 2019. In addition, he served on the U.S. Attorney Nomination Committee and the Pennsylvania Bar Association Merit Selection Committee. A well-known and respected attorney in Lackawanna County, he retired in 2018 due to illness.

Mr. Gazda was a devoted member of and an advisor to the Polish National Catholic Church. He served for many years as a member of the Supreme Council of the PNCC, the Constitution Committee of the PNCC, and the Parish Committee of the St. Stanislaus Cathedral in Scranton. He served as attorney for the Polish National Union of America, and he also assisted with legal matters for the Spojnia retirement home, the Manor at Waymart.

He was deeply committed to Freemasonry. A past master of the Acacia Lodge no. 579 in Taylor, he advanced through the degrees to the highest one conferred on a Mason, the 33rd Degree. He was most wise master of the Rose Croix in 1974 and in 1984-85 served as commander in chief of the Valley of Lackawanna Keystone Consistory. He was also a member of the Irem Temple Shriners, the Lackawanna Royal Arch Chapter no. 185, Scranton Council no. 44, and Melita Coeur de Leon Commandry no. 17 of the York Rite Bodies. As past president of the Masonic Temple Scottish Rite Cathedral Association, he served on the board of the Scranton Cultural Center and was instrumental in securing its financial stability.

Mr. Gazda's commitment to public service began to develop in his teens when he joined Bill Scranton on the campaign trail, serving as his introducer as they canvassed house to house to persuade people to vote for Bill for Congress. Later, he was a member of numerous boards, including, among others, those of the Third National Bank of Scranton, the County of Lackawanna Transit Authority (COLTS), Keystone College, Elk Mountain Ski Resort and SKM Industries.

Throughout his life he enjoyed fishing. As a young boy he learned to surf fish in the Atlantic Ocean at Lavallette, New Jersey, where his family had a summer cottage, but after a neighbor introduced him to deep sea fishing, that became a passion. One of his proudest possessions was a Boston Whaler (the Pro-Baiter) that he took out into the ocean, always with guests aboard, and usually came home with a good haul. His love of deep-sea fishing later took him to Sitka, Alaska, where he joined friends on annual visits. His passion for boating took another form in college. Although football and basketball were his main sports in high school, at Marietta he joined the crew team and proudly rowed varsity when they won the Dad Vail Regatta in 1963. When he once broke an oar during a race, it became a cherished trophy. During his illness, he dreamt of being back on his boat, heading out to sea.

Mr. Gazda is survived by his loving sister, Elaine Gazda (McIntosh); and his adoring niece, Karina McIntosh, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; as well as many caring cousins and their families. During his last four years his devoted cousin, Gloria Thiel, was his principal caregiver, and in his final year he enjoyed the company of wonderful aides who went above and beyond in their caregiving: Carmine, who amused him by calling him "Boss," Amy, Jennifer, Bertha and Kristin. He will be missed by them all.

The funeral will be Tuesday with Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Stanislaus Polish National Catholic Cathedral, 529 E. Locust St., Scranton, by the Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky. Those attending the Mass are asked to go directly to church Tuesday morning. Interment, parish cemetery, Kane Street, Scranton.

Family and friends may call Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m., and Monday, 4 to 7 p.m., at the Nicholas Chomko Funeral Home, 1132 Prospect Ave., South Scranton. A Masonic service will be held on Sunday at 6 p.m. by the Acacia Lodge #579.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Polish National Union Education and Youth Commission for the Ernest J. Gazda Jr. Scholarship Fund or to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Joseph W. Sznyter, F.D.