Obituary of William P. Slavoski

William P. (Bill) Slavoski, 90, of South Plainfield, NJ died peacefully at his home on February 9, 2024, with his beloved wife Teddy at his side.

Born in Sugar Notch, PA on November 7, 1933, he was the son of John and Anna (O'Donnell) Slavoski. A graduate of Sugar Notch High School (1950), he attended and received his BA degree from King’s College (1954) and later his MA degree from Newark State College (1969).  After enlisting in the US Army, he served as an Instructor at Camp Chafee, Arkansas before his honorable discharge in 1956. It was there that he found his calling and followed his mother’s footsteps into a career in education.

He was hired as a teacher by his mentor and later great friend John E. Riley in 1956, and proudly spent his entire career as an educator in the South Plainfield school system.  After moving to South Plainfield in 1963, he served the students and families of the borough as a teacher and school principal at both the Grant and John F. Kennedy elementary schools.  He was honored by the dedication of a tire park in his name in 1978.

A long-time, active parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in South Plainfield, he was one of the first lay ministers to serve there as a Lector and later as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

He was also a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge, where he enjoyed his love of billiards.

A talented athlete and competitor, he was captain of his high school basketball team, participated in multiple sports throughout his college yearsand military service, and was an accomplished tennis player. He loved to swim, was a lifeguard, and later manager of the Westbrook Swim Club for many years, where he was also a swimming and water safety instructor.

He was blessed with a tenor’s voice and was a member of the Glee Club at King’s College, as well as performing in multiple musical theater productions there, often in a leading role. He graced the weddings of family members with his vocal gift.  Some of his favorite performances were singing with the Kennedy School choir and his Christmas carol solosat the annual holiday concerts.

He married his high school sweetheart (they knew each other since kindergarten) and was a devoted husband to his wife Teddy for 66 years.  After his retirement in 1993 they enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S.,especially their favorite destination of Siesta Key, FL. He also continued his connection with the community through his work at McCriskin- Gustafson Home for Funerals for many years.

His self-proclaimed greatest joy came from his role as a grandfather to his 4 grandchildren.  All accomplished athletes in their own rights, he enjoyed following their competitive endeavors and he proudly attended all their weddings. That joy was only surpassed by the privilege of welcoming hisgreat grandchildren into the family.

In addition to his loving wife he is survived by son Bill and wife Kathy Slavoski of Bethlehem, PA, daughter Teddyann and husband Brian Lenker of Sparta, NJ, 4 grandchildren and their spouses - Bill and Alana Slavoskiof Parker, CO, Kristin and Chris DiSanto of Harrisburg, PA, Nicholas and Keri Lenker of Chatham, NJ, Michael and Natalie Lenker of New York City, 4 great-grandchildren - Brienna and (William) Barrett Slavoski, Miles Lenker and Madelyn DiSanto, as well as a sister-in-law Georgene Sivulich of Sugar Notch and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Joseph P. Slavoski and John J. Slavoski.

The Slavoski family would like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff at Gentiva Hospice for the wonderful care and compassion they provided for Bill and our family.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Church of the Sacred Heart in South Plainfield.  A burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains.

Visitation will be 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Friday, February 16, 2024, and 9:00 am – 9:30 am on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

Arrangements are being handled by the McCriskin - Gustafson Home for Funerals in South Plainfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory 
of William P. Slavoski