Gregory Paul Czaplinski

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gregory Paul Czaplinski, age 72 of Wayne, NJ.

Gregory was born in Glen Ridge, NJ and lived with his family for several years in Bloomfield.  He was the youngest of three children to Zigmunt and Beatrice Czaplinski.  In the early 1960’s, Greg and his family moved to Wayne, NJ where he attended Wayne Valley High School.  While a student at Wayne Valley High School, Greg was a member of the Boys’ Varsity Track and Field Team. 

After graduating from Wayne Valley High School with the class of 1969, Greg attended William Paterson College for about two years.  He accepted the position as the head greenskeeper of two prestigious golf courses nestled in the suburb landscapes of Wayne, NJ.  Greg honed his craft with unwavering commitment. His interests led him to pursue further education in turf management at Rutgers University, where he studied intricacies of maintaining lush greenery. Armed with newfound expertise, Greg embraced a new chapter in his career, accepting the esteemed position of manager within the parks department of Ridgewood, NJ.  Greg held this position for more than twenty-four years until retiring in 2013.  While working for the parks department in Ridgewood, Greg also freelanced with a friend of his named Ted who owned a tree service company. 

Given Greg’s career choice, it came as no surprise that he cherished gardening.  Greg always had his front and back yards of his home meticulously landscaped and pristine in appearance. Greg was an avid fisherman to say the least.  Whether it was the tranquility of casting his line in the serene lakes or the thrill of braving the icy depths during winter, Greg found solace and joy in every fishing expedition. It was evident in his decision to purchase a home nestled along the shores of Lake Ontario in New York, a sanctuary where he could immerse himself fully in the unparalleled fishing experiences that the lake offered.  Whether on his spring, summer, or winter fishing trips, Greg could always be found partaking in his favorite past time with a Coors Lite Beer in his hand.  Greg was also an avid New York Giants fan and New York Rangers fan.  He was devoted son and treasured watching the Rangers on television with his mom.  Greg also cherished every moment spent with his beloved Great Dane, Zeus who passed away several years ago.

Greg was a larger-than-life person with an infectious sense of humor and personality.  He loved spending time with his family and friends.  He will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Greg is survived by his cousins; Richard Czaplinski and his wife Agnes of Totowa, NJ, Donna Marrone, Carol Elio, Joseph Skurski of Clifton, NJ, and Elaine Skurski of Clifton, NJ, extended family members; Rita Shuey of Prescott, MI, Darleen Peluso of Woodland Park, NJ, Chad Skurski of Clifton, and his life-long friend Michael Kahman of Wayne, NJ.  He was predeceased by his brother Zigmunt Czaplinski and by his parents Zigmunt and Beatrice Czaplinski.