Thomas S. "Stan" Piekarski

On Thursday, November 13, 2025, Thomas Stanley Piekarski, affectionately known as "Stan the Man" to his many relatives and friends, passed away. He was 101.
He was born Feb. 7, 1924, the youngest son and sixth boy of 16 children to Casimira (Kwiatkowska) and Alexander Piekarski of Yonkers, N.Y. Stan attended St. Casimir's elementary school, Saunders Trades and Technical High School, and then Commerce High School, graduating in 1941.
Stan enlisted in the Army Air Corps (later renamed Army Air Forces) at 18 and was sent to Colorado for training. After his discharge, he worked at the General Motors Eastern Aircraft facility in Tarrytown, N.Y., that built wings for torpedo bombers deployed in World War II. Stan supervised a woman who later became known as "Rosie the Riveter."
After the war, among other jobs, he worked as sports editor at the Ossining Citizen Register before beginning a 33-year career at the U.S. Postal Service. At the main branch of the Yonkers post office system, he rose to chief accountant. His later job titles included assistant director of operations at Mount Vernon and director of mail processing in Poughkeepsie.
In 1942, as an 18-year-old, he played with his five brothers on the Piekarski All-Stars, which once won two basketball games back-to-back. In 1946, he and brothers Ben and Ted were selected for the citywide fast-pitch all-star game, the first night contest in Yonkers' history. From that year to 1967, Stan pitched his teams to 12 top-two finishes, winning seven championships, hurling two no-hitters and taking home a Westchester County tournament title.
In 1947, he worked at CIT Credit Corp., a small firm that employed only about 20 men. From that group, Stan formed and managed a softball team that participated in the citywide Yonkers Industrial League tournament. Advancing to the finals and facing the six-time defending county champion Pacoys, Stan pitched CIT to the city championship.
In 1961, he managed son Tommy's team to the North Yonkers Little League championship. Stan was part of three bowling league championship teams; in tournament play, he won two team titles and numerous individual trophies for high game or high series. In 1964, along with brothers Ted and Ben, he won the Yonkers "B" Division championship of the Westchester County Horseshoe Players League. Individually, Stan earned the WCHPL singles tournament, talent division, title in 1965. He also won championships in the Yonkers Horseshoe League in 1965 and 1969.
He moved with his family to Somers, N.Y., in 1971. In 1972, he founded the (slow-pitch) Somers Men's Softball League, serving as league commissioner from 1973-1979 and vice president from 1982 to 1991. He was named "Outstanding Player" of the Somers Men's Softball League in 1984 and Most Valuable Player of the Somers Men's Fast Pitch Softball League in 1986 at age 62. He played on and led 11 championship teams in the men's slow-pitch league over five decades (the 1970s through the 2010s).
In the Somers area, his teams won six league bowling championships between 1973 and 1987. At the annual July 4th picnics in Somers, he won five horseshoe pitching tournaments, and he and his wife, "Ellie," won five egg-throwing contests. He was elected president of the Shenorock Men's Club in 1975.
In 1979, he helped organize the annual Piekarski family reunion in Westchester County. He also created, organized and ran the Piekarski Golf Tournament, held from 1994 to 2004.-
Stan had a deep love for his Polish heritage and his family. In addition to his children, he reveled in hearing about and from his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Stan was predeceased by his wife and soulmate of 70 years, Eleanor Marie (Ferencz) Piekarski, who passed in 2019 at age 91. Survivors include his children, Janet (William) Zaccarelli of Mooresville, N.C.; Thomas (Peggy) Piekarski of Bluffton, S.C.; Alexander Piekarski (Jim Ford) of Little River, S.C.; Michael (Debbie) Piekarski of Latham, N.Y.; Ellen (Ed) Schiefelbein of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Robert (Marlene) Piekarski of Shenorock, N.Y.; and Sue Ann (Kevin) Kearney of Somers, N.Y.; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are welcome to gather to attend a visitation on Friday, November 21, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Cargain Funeral Home, 418 Route 6 (GPS US-6), Mahopac, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Stan's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at St. Joseph's Church, 95 Plumb Brook Road, Somers, NY.
Following the Mass, Stan will be escorted to his final resting place alongside his beloved wife, Eleanor (2019), at the Rose Hills Memorial Park, 100 Mill Street, Putnam Valley, NY. There will be a U.S. Military Army Honor Guard ceremony graveside. Stan is a very proud veteran of World War II.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Cargain Funeral Homes, Inc., 418 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541, 845-628-5655, www.cargainfuneralhomes.com.
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