Charley Kolasa

Charley Kolasa, age 81, a fifty-three year resident of Wayne, passed Sunday, July 27, 2025.

He was born in Paterson to Charles and Joan Kolasa.  He lived in Hawthorne before moving to Wayne in 1972. Charley served in the US Army in Germany during the Vietnam War.  He received a Marksman (Rifle) designation and the National Defense Service Medal for his service. He was Honorably Discharged on September 6, 1967. 

From the age of twelve, Charley had an insatiable passion for mechanics, tinkering with car engines and learning the intricacies of automotive repair. His talent and dedication led him to various garages in Paterson, where he honed his skills and built a reputation as a trusted, reliable, and gifted, mechanic.  In 1981, he began working at Central Garage, now Allendale Auto Repair, of which he became the owner in 2001. In addition to his talents diagnosing and repairing cars, he was very empathetic and the ultimate "people person", which made his shop a staple in the community. For over four decades, Charley poured his heart and soul into his work, fostering friendships and becoming a beloved figure in the Allendale community before retiring in 2022.  His customers were such an important part of his life.  Just this past Friday, he openly expressed how much he missed both working on cars and the warm camaraderie of the Allendale community.

Charley had a sharp mind and an almost photographic memory. Conversations with him would always include him telling endless stories of his family, work, life, and his rebellious times as a young man. His quick wit and sense of humor were shaped by his appreciation for classic comedies such as Johnny Carson, Rodney Dangerfield, and The Honeymooners. 

Charley would do anything for his family, and all his early mornings and long hours at the shop were dedicated to providing for them. He was a loving husband to Sandra Kolasa. They were inseparable, and their deep love and devotion to each other was obvious every day as they built their life together for fifty-three years.  Charley was the loving father of Susan Kolasa  (husband David Harrison) of Wayne and Sherry Kolasa (fiancé David Konas) of Wayne; cherished grandfather of Ethan, Adam, and Kaitlyn Harrison. 

Charley was the kind of father everyone hopes to have: loving, supportive, and always there when it mattered. His generous heart shaped the women his daughters became, infusing their lives with love and strength. They cherished their early morning 6AM chats with him, and his yearly "Happy Birthday" call became a sweet tradition they always looked forward to. They both wanted to be close to him, and they bought homes in Wayne only ten minutes way.

Charley was a man who found joy in life’s simple pleasures, and time with family was everything to him. He took great pride in caring for his backyard pool, often spending summer days swimming and relaxing with those he loved most. Later in life, he and his wife purchased a second home in Florida. This home served as a vacation retreat for them, and he so enjoyed the weather, the water, and friends in the community. 

Spending time together as a family was a priority.  While his kids were growing up, they took annual trips to the Caribbean and Mexico. It meant so much to him when his mother and father-in-law, Bea and Eli, were able to join as well.  Later, his daughter Susan honored the same tradition by bringing everyone together in Cape May.  No one loved the beach more than Charley. He was reliably the first one ready for the ocean every morning and the last to want to leave. 

He will be so sorely missed, but his family and friends have a lifetime of memories and that will keep him alive every day.  We'll especially remember him on the Cape May porch, a place he loved the most. 

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In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wayne First Aid Squad would be greatly appreciated.