William Nicholas Stasiuk, Jr "Bill"

William "Bill" Nicholas Stasiuk Jr died after a brief illness on August 15, 2022. He was 77 years old.

Bill was born in October 1944, in Paterson NJ, to William and Helen (nee Patinsky) Stasiuk. His parents divorced while he was an infant: he was raised on Staten Island, NY by his mother and her second husband, Alex Kopetschny.

Bill studied at Manhattan College from the age of sixteen; he was a committed member of his fraternity Phi Kappa Theta. He took a BS in civil engineering in 1965, and an MS in sanitary engineering in 1966.

He moved to Albany, NY in 1966 to work at the NY State Department of Health. This began his lifelong career as a public health professional - both with the DoH, and also with the Department of Environmental Conservation. Bill's career progressed rapidly; he even grew his prematurely gray beard to appear older to seasoned colleagues.

Through a strong friendship group (self-titled "NACUA", the friends played bridge and took frequent road trips to Lake Luzerne), Bill met Helenna "Cissy" Posselt. They married in 1967, embarking on a lifelong partnership that brought great joy to them, their family, and their many friends.

Bill and Cissy welcomed the first of three children in 1969 just as Bill, sponsored by the state, embarked on his PhD in environmental engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - he completed it in 1973.

Around this time, Bill fell hard for his second love and lifelong mistress - the glorious game of golf. (Cissy joined him in this passion later.) In the early 1970s, Bill's Monday evenings were devoted to a golf league at Western Turnpike: he famously accepted a promotion on the condition that his hours permitted him to play. He continued playing there even after he and Cissy moved to Delmar NY and joined Normanside Country Club (where the 13th hole particularly captivated Bill). The only course which equaled these two in Bill's affections was Waterlefe, the Florida course and community where he and Cissy made their retirement home. Bill was justifiably proud of his low handicap, his four lifetime holes in one (three on Waterlefe's 11th hole), and for shooting his own age several times.

Beyond his immediate and wider family, friends, golf and work (in that order), Bill's interests were many and varied. He was a talented, prodigious gardener; he built beautiful decking at home; he and Cissy played social bridge and tennis; Bill coached little league and was a regular cheerleader for his childrens' varied sports; he loved fishing; he mixed outstanding cocktails. He and Cissy maintained an astonishingly vibrant social life: their parties and holiday celebrations were famous, and they traveled with friends on golf tours and cruises. Bill and Cissy protected time for daily family dinners, where their children, and later grandchildren, learnt to love doo wop music, debate and laughter.

From 1996-2000, Bill served as Deputy Commissioner and Director of the Bureau of Water Supply in the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, which is responsible for the New York City water supply system. He loved serving New York City and its watershed. He then worked briefly as a consulting engineer for Malcolm Pirnie.

In 2003, Bill and Cissy bought a snowbird condominium at Waterlefe in Bradenton, FL; in 2005 they left Delmar to move into a home there year-round. Their three adored children and spouses, and seven beloved grandchildren, often visited "Pop" and "Nana": Tania & Nick Rawlinson (with George, Charlie and Morenci); Stephen & Alexandra Stasiuk-Cordts (with Peyton and Morgan); and David & Philippa Stasiuk (with Iris and Jane, now Michael). They had a wide circle of cherished friends and golf companions. Bill and Cissy's home was a special place of love, and laughter.

Bill leaves his adored family, both immediate and wider, who all loved him dearly. His family and myriad friends - including golfing and social friends, colleagues, staff from Waterlefe and other entities he touched - will remember his wonderful humor. Bill would have said, "Adios, my friends..."

Celebration of Life gatherings will be held in Florida at the Waterlefe River Club on Tuesday 1 November 2022 from 1-4pm, with brief speeches at 2.30pm (casual / golf wear); and in Delmar NY at Normanside Country Club on Monday 3 April 2023 from 12-3pm. All are welcome, please RSVP via: stasiuk.kids@gmail.com

In lieu of flowers, tribute gifts are welcomed to Goodwill Manasota, a charity which Bill and Cissy regularly supported: https://experiencegoodwill.org/donate-financially