Stephen D. Cernak

On December 11, 2015, Stephen D. Cernak, age 69, went to be with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Steve was born in Bronx, New York on March 21, 1946 to Stephen and Anna (Margetiak) Cernak. At age 3, he and his family moved to a dairy farm in Treadwell, NY, where they continued farming for many years. Steve graduated from A.L. Kellogg School in 1963. He worked at Scintilla and did carpentry until joining General Electric, where he remained for 43 years, retiring in 2009. For over 37 years he was a beloved and respected member of the community of Fish House, NY. He was a member of the Northampton United Methodist Church as well as a member of St. Joseph's Church in Broadalbin. Steve was a multi-talented musician playing saxophone, drums and the accordion in high school, and went on to perform as a local musician, playing guitar and singing with numerous bands for over 30 years. He was a skilled outdoors man and raced canoes for years, earning numerous trophies. His love of scuba diving was well known; he was a Master Diver, New York State Diver of the Year, a longtime member of the Adirondack Aqua nautical Society, and involved with the Bateaux Below, Inc. underwater archeology project in Lake George. He was a scuba instructor at Fulton-Montgomery Community College for many years, often bringing his classes to dive in his beloved Great Sacandaga Lake. Steve was predeceased by his father, Stephen Cernak; his mother, Anna Margetiak Cernak Bulinski; and his wife of 33 years, Sheriane (Palmer) Cernak. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen RingWood Cernak; his sister, Kathleen Cernak Hanley (William); brother, Michael Zurn (Patty); children, Maureen Waterbury (Daniel), Stephen D. Cernak, Jr, (Diane), Salleane Ryder (Michael), Shawn Cernak (Jennifer), Kymberly Fonda (Jeffrey), Aileen Shippee (Daniel), Rocky Doran and Christopher Cernak (Rachel); 22 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three nephews; one niece; one great- nephew and one great-niece. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. There will be a memorial gathering at the Community Center in Fish House presided over by the Reverend Kathy Reese, on Friday, December 18th at 4 p.m. As he was a snowbird, a celebration of Steve's life will be held this summer.