George Chanda

George Chanda, Jr., age 93 of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 22, 2024.

George was born in Passaic, NJ to George, Sr. and Mary Chanda. He was the oldest of three boys: George, Nicholas, and Joseph. A student at Clifton High, he was an athlete participating in the Varsity football team and competing as the 1st baseman for the school baseball team. He also competed on the Clifton Clippers recreational baseball team, starting a love for the sport that lasted a lifetime.

George had many fond memories of his high school days, but his favorite was Junior Prom when he “kept company with” (his own words) a beautiful girl named Doris Junda. The two had a great time and fell in love over the following years. They were married on August 31, 1952 and they moved in together shortly thereafter to an apartment above Doris’ family butcher shop. After George graduated from Fordham University College of Pharmacy on June 10, 1953.  Their family started to grow with the blessing of their two children: Steve and Sharon and they decided they wanted to start to build a place of their own. The couple built their home in Wayne, NJ where they raised their family of four. Doris took night classes so she could take care of the family and graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.

George had an incredible work ethic that he attributed to his early years with the Boy Scouts of America. He first started in grammar school and continued through high school. Back then, his first ambition was to become a farmer, but he developed a love for chemistry leading to his ultimate career owning and operating the T-Bowl Drugs Pharmacy in Wayne. He was dedicated to his Pharmacy working 7-days a week open to close. Regardless, he still made time for his kids and grandkids by employing everyone in the neighborhood in any capacity they were able. This afforded him time to go and see all his kids and grandkids sports games while also contributing to the community. He also was a founding member of the Lions club in Wayne. He will be remembered for his selflessness and generosity in maintaining a work environment that the community loved to be part of.

George was a caring and selfless dad, grandpa, and great grandpa whose joy came from sharing life’s simple pleasures with his family and friends. Whether he was fishing with his grandkids (untying the countless knots they tangled their poles together in without complaint), enjoying a baseball game, or cooking tasty meals with his award-winning home-grown vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, corn, and tomatoes were his favorite crops) George lived life to the fullest. He and Doris’s arrival was always eagerly anticipated by his grandkids, in part because of the good times they were bound to share, but more importantly because of the second suitcase they always packed filled entirely with toys and gifts to be shared with their grandkids! He loved his family, and they will all miss him dearly.

George is predeceased by his wife: Doris Chanda; parents: George, Sr. and Mary Chanda; his brother: Nicholas Chanda and wife, Barbara; his daughter: Sharon Bellusci and her husband Thomas Bellusci; and his niece: Amanda Bellusci.

He is survived by his son Steve Chanda; his brother: Joseph Chanda and wife Marilyn Chanda; his sister-in-law: Marge; his grandkids: Shannon and Brian, Thomas, Mathew and Dana, David and Janett; his great grandkids: Aria, Averie, Aubrey, and the most recent addition Kya; His nephews and nieces: Joseph and Hope with Cole and Wyatt, Michelle and Glenn with Mackenzie and Jack. Karen and Chris, Lynn and Chuck, Nancy and David, and their families. Along with many other loving extended family members.

In addition to flowers, memorial contributions to the Boys and Girls Club of Paterson would be greatly appreciated.