Janek A. Skutnik

Janek A. Skutnik, 65, died Thursday, May 27, 2010, at Overlook Hospital, after a lengthy illness. Viewing will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at the Rossi Funeral Home, 1937 Westfield Ave., Scotch Plains, N.J. A Funeral Mass will be offered at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, June 4, at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church, 2032 Westfield Ave., Scotch Plains. Interment will follow at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Provinceline Rd., Wrightstown, N.J. Online remembrances can be made online at therossifuneralhome.com. Raised in Clifton, N.J., Jan attended St. Joseph Grammar School and Pope Pius XII High School, where he excelled in academics and musical pursuits as well as sports. He played football and ran track, setting school records while being co-captain of the track team. He also excelled in snow skiing in Vermont. His thoughts turned toward the religious life and he entered the seminary at Darlington, N.J., in 1961, staying through 1966. He continued his musical pursuits in the Seminary Choir, singing and playing his 12-string guitar. Jan received a B.A. degree from Seton Hall University and an M.B.A. from Monmouth University. Following teaching at Saddle River Country Day School, he entered the U.S. Army, and after completing Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant on May 19, 1969. In the Army he functioned as infantry officer; personnel officer; assistant correctional officer; mobile advisory team leader in Pleiku, Vietnam; province assistant advisor; assistant engineering officer; assistant professor of military science at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, N.J.; director of information management; signal officer; mobilization officer; operations officer; division signal officer, and 250th signal battalion (MSE) commander. He retired in 1999 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Jan continued his singing avocation with the Masterwork Chorus, New Jersey State Opera and Chorus, Coro Lyrico, Oratorio Singers, the Saint Bartholomew the Apostle Schola Cantorum and the Newark, N.J., Archdiocesan Sacred Heart Cathedral Choir. An active member of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle Church, he served for many years as a lector, Eucharistic minister, cantor and member of the scola. Jan was a man of deep faith and devotion to God, family and country. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary Jo; their son, Jonathan and his wife, Amy, and their sons, Nathanial and Benjaman; and son, Peter; his brother, Bolesh, and his wife, Anita, and numerous extended family members, friends and colleagues. Jan supported numerous charities and the family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Ave., South Orange, N.J. 07079-2646, or to the charity closest to your heart.