George Samborsky

George “Spanky” Samborsky, age 92 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 13, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

George was born in his family home in Clifton, NJ.  He was raised in Clifton and was one of three children to Andrew and Anna Samborksy.  While growing up in Clifton, George attended Clifton High School graduating with the class of 1945.  Shortly after his high school graduation, George decided to take advantage of the GI Bill and enlisted in the United States Army.  George served honorably in the US Army between 1946 and 1947.  During his time in the armed forces, he served with the 34th Infantry Regiment in the 24th Infantry Division at Sasebo Japan.  There he was Chief Clerk of regiment S-1 section.

Following his honorable discharge from the US Army in 1947, George enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute in Troy, NY.  It was there he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.  George was the first of his family to graduate from college.  Subsequent to his college graduation, George found work quickly and accepted a position as an Electrical and Mechanical Engineer at General Electric in Pittsburg, PA.  George was only there for about two or three years when he was offered another position as a Draftsman/Engineer at the Elliott Corporation in Springfield, NJ where they manufactured a variety of part for power plants.  George worked his way up the corporate ladder and eventually earned the title of Sales Manager.  George held this position until his was forced into an early retirement when the company started to downsize.  George’s career at Elliott Corporation spanned nearly forty years.

Following his retirement from Elliott, George continued to work part time for a number of retail supermarkets and pharmacies.  George’s work for the various stores was based around quality control and making certain specific products were displayed correctly.  George had an outstanding work ethic and remained employed until he was almost eighty five years old.

In 1958 while George was employed at the Elliott Corporation, he worked alongside a young attractive woman by the name of Lucy Cirigliano.  George and Lucy hit it off great and started dating.  The couple dated for about two years and as fate would have it they fell in love and were married on September 17, 1960.  Immediately after getting married, George and Lucy moved to Wayne and remained there for the rest of their lives.  George and Lucy called Wayne their home for more than sixty years and raised their two daughters.    

One of George’s favorite past times was football.  It really didn’t matter who was playing.  Some say that if Goofy and Mickey Mouse were playing football, George could watch and enjoy the game.  George held NY Giants season tickets since 1957 until only a few years ago.  George’s other passion in life was golf.  The game of Golf was something that George cherished over the years.  George introduced the game of Golf to his younger brother Gene who later attended college on a Golf Scholarship.  Gene later became a professional golfer and accredits his brother to introducing him to the sport.  George could often be found a Passaic County Golf Club and Bowling Green Golf course in Oak Ridge working on his game.

Aside from all of George’s talents, hobbies, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to George than providing for and spending time with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren.  Sadly, in 2014 tragedy struck George’s family’s life when their daughter Lynne Cartwright passed away from a courageous battle with cancer.  George was a quiet and conservative man with a personality to match.  He and his wife Lucy treasured more than sixty years of loving and loyal marriage together.  George was not only devoted to his family but he was also dedicated to his Baptist Faith.  He and his family were members of Preakness Baptist Church in Wayne for many years.  There, George was extremely active singing in the choir and was a Deacon as well.

George was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew him.  

George is survived by his wife Lucy (nee Cirigliano) of Wayne, one daughter Robyn Abrams and her husband Larry of Mahwah, Son-in-law Christopher Cartwright, one brother Gene Samborsky and his wife Rebecca of Cincinnati, OH, three grandchildren; Samantha Franco and her husband Pat of Dover, NJ, Jack Abrams of Mahwah, NJ and Evan Cartwright of Stanhope, NJ,; his nephew James Van Broekhoven and his wife Mary Jo.  He was pre deceased by his daughter Lynne Cartwright in 2014, and by his sister Helen Van Broekhoven in 2019.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George’s name to Colon Cancer Foundation, 10 Midland Ave, Suite MO6, Port Chester, NY 10573.  

 www.coloncancerfoundation.org