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July 18, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9 AM on Wednesday, July 23 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, Wayne, where at 10AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at the Calvary Mausoleum in Paterson.
Donald R. Pavlak, Sr., age 79 of Wayne, entered eternal rest on Friday, July 18, 2014 surrounded by his loving family. Donald has been a resident of Wayne since 1951 and retired as the Wayne Township Chief of Police in 2000.
Raised in East Paterson, Donald moved to Wayne with his parents when he was just seventeen years old. He was among the first graduating class of 1953 from the newly constructed Wayne High School. He continued his education at Fairleigh Dickinson University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957. He then made the choice to enlist in the U.S. Army where he was assigned to an intelligence unit after basic training. He served about one year before being discharged early on account of his educational achievements prior to enlisting. He subsequently earned his Master’s degree in education from William Paterson College and upon graduation he joined the Wayne Police Department in 1958. Later in his career, he became an Adjunct Professor at William Paterson University teaching Criminal Justice.
During his career, Donald worked his way up through the police department ranks, making sergeant in the 1960’s, Lieutenant and then Captain in the 1970’s before becoming Chief of the department in 1987, eventually retiring in 2000. He was devoted to his career and became President of the Wayne PBA 136, President of the Passaic County Chiefs Association, a member of the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Passaic County Retried Officers Local 600. He received many professional awards during his career as well, such as the “Man of the Year” award by the Wayne PAL, the “Good Scouts” award by the Boy Scouts of America, Chief’s Challenge Award, and he was named “Man of the Year” by the Wayne Boys & Girls Club and “Man of the Year” by the American Cancer Society. He was also given Congressional recognition during his career by Congressman Robert Roe. Donald was truly a dedicated public servant, a very fair minded man, and skilled at diplomacy. He was a true leader and well respected among all who knew him.
He traveled a great deal with his wife and enjoyed visiting the Iberian Peninsula. They cruised through the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, Bermuda and traveled to Aruba several times. They even crossed the Atlantic five times on the Queen Mary and on one occasion flew back to the U.S. on the Concorde; breakfast in London and dinner in Wayne! His favorite trip was to Normandy, France touring the museums and historical sights.
Nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his granddaughters. He was putty in their hands, loved them more than they will ever know, and he gladly spoiled them. He would spend time with them at every chance and often surprised them with gifts. They will have enough loving memories of their ‘Pop’ to last a lifetime.
Don met his wife Dolores (nee Walsh) at an ice cream shop on Van Houten Avenue in Clifton. They had both been planning to attend a golf outing which was suddenly rained out. A large group of the golfers chose to go for ice cream and the two of them met there. He offered her a ride home after, but she would have nothing of getting into a car with a man she had just met! So, he asked her out on a date and they went to see “Damn Yankees” at the Papermill Playhouse in Milburn. Their romance blossomed and a wedding was held on May 9, 1959 at Holy Angels RC Church in Little Falls followed by a honeymoon in the Pocono’s. They have lived in Wayne ever since and became active members of Our Lady of Consolation RC Church in Wayne where Don was a Head Usher at just about every Saturday Mass and a member of the Seniors Club. He was also a member of the Wayne Knights of Columbus #136, Anthony Wayne American Legion Post, the Wayne Elks, and a member of the North Jersey Country Club. He and Dolores recently celebrated fifty five wonderful years together and she will miss him dearly.
Donald is survived by his beloved wife Dolores of Wayne, his son Donald Pavlak, Jr. of the Wayne Police Department and his wife Barbara of Wayne, two granddaughters; Samantha and Katie Pavlak of Wayne, and his son-in-law; William Bernowich of Washingtonville, NY. He was predeceased by his daughter Mary Elizabeth Bernowich in 2011 and by his loving parents; Stephen and Anna Pavlak.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517 Topeka, KS 66675, www.WoundedWarriorProject.org or to the St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center Foundation, 703 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07503, would be greatly appreciated.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9 AM on Wednesday, July 23 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, Wayne, where at 10AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at the Calvary Mausoleum in Paterson.
July 18, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 9 AM on Wednesday, July 23 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, Wayne, where at 10AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at the Calvary Mausoleum in Paterson.
Donald R. Pavlak, Sr., age 79 of Wayne, entered eternal rest on Friday, July 18, 2014 surrounded by his loving family. Donald has been a resident of Wayne since 1951 and retired as the Wayne Township Chief of Police in 2000.
Raised in East Paterson, Donald moved to Wayne with his parents when he was just seventeen years old. He was among the first graduating class of 1953 from the newly constructed Wayne High School. He continued his education at Fairleigh Dickinson University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957. He then made the choice to enlist in the U.S. Army where he was assigned to an intelligence unit after basic training. He served about one year before being discharged early on account of his educational achievements prior to enlisting. He subsequently earned his Master’s degree in education from William Paterson College and upon graduation he joined the Wayne Police Department in 1958. Later in his career, he became an Adjunct Professor at William Paterson University teaching Criminal Justice.
During his career, Donald worked his way up through the police department ranks, making sergeant in the 1960’s, Lieutenant and then Captain in the 1970’s before becoming Chief of the department in 1987, eventually retiring in 2000. He was devoted to his career and became President of the Wayne PBA 136, President of the Passaic County Chiefs Association, a member of the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Passaic County Retried Officers Local 600. He received many professional awards during his career as well, such as the “Man of the Year” award by the Wayne PAL, the “Good Scouts” award by the Boy Scouts of America, Chief’s Challenge Award, and he was named “Man of the Year” by the Wayne Boys & Girls Club and “Man of the Year” by the American Cancer Society. He was also given Congressional recognition during his career by Congressman Robert Roe. Donald was truly a dedicated public servant, a very fair minded man, and skilled at diplomacy. He was a true leader and well respected among all who knew him.
He traveled a great deal with his wife and enjoyed visiting the Iberian Peninsula. They cruised through the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, Bermuda and traveled to Aruba several times. They even crossed the Atlantic five times on the Queen Mary and on one occasion flew back to the U.S. on the Concorde; breakfast in London and dinner in Wayne! His favorite trip was to Normandy, France touring the museums and historical sights.
Nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his granddaughters. He was putty in their hands, loved them more than they will ever know, and he gladly spoiled them. He would spend time with them at every chance and often surprised them with gifts. They will have enough loving memories of their ‘Pop’ to last a lifetime.
Don met his wife Dolores (nee Walsh) at an ice cream shop on Van Houten Avenue in Clifton. They had both been planning to attend a golf outing which was suddenly rained out. A large group of the golfers chose to go for ice cream and the two of them met there. He offered her a ride home after, but she would have nothing of getting into a car with a man she had just met! So, he asked her out on a date and they went to see “Damn Yankees” at the Papermill Playhouse in Milburn. Their romance blossomed and a wedding was held on May 9, 1959 at Holy Angels RC Church in Little Falls followed by a honeymoon in the Pocono’s. They have lived in Wayne ever since and became active members of Our Lady of Consolation RC Church in Wayne where Don was a Head Usher at just about every Saturday Mass and a member of the Seniors Club. He was also a member of the Wayne Knights of Columbus #136, Anthony Wayne American Legion Post, the Wayne Elks, and a member of the North Jersey Country Club. He and Dolores recently celebrated fifty five wonderful years together and she will miss him dearly.
Donald is survived by his beloved wife Dolores of Wayne, his son Donald Pavlak, Jr. of the Wayne Police Department and his wife Barbara of Wayne, two granddaughters; Samantha and Katie Pavlak of Wayne, and his son-in-law; William Bernowich of Washingtonville, NY. He was predeceased by his daughter Mary Elizabeth Bernowich in 2011 and by his loving parents; Stephen and Anna Pavlak.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517 Topeka, KS 66675, www.WoundedWarriorProject.org or to the St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center Foundation, 703 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07503, would be greatly appreciated.
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