Samuel G. Jarkesy

Samuel G Jarkesy, 93, passed away on January 29, 2024.  His wife of twenty years, Marie (Tiernan) and his daughter, Susan Leah, passed away in 1981. Sam and Marie met while both were teachers at Passaic High School, and they were married in 1961. Sam and Marie were devoted to each other and to their children. 

His father, also Samuel, passed away four months before Sam was born. Sam was born on December 26, 1930, and raised in Paterson by his mother, Leah (Asfor), with the help of his grandmother, Eva, her husband, Albert, many loving aunts and uncles, and beloved step-father Chris Affsa. Sam lived in Paterson, Totowa Boro, Miami, and Passaic. Sam’s family moved to Wayne in 1968. 

Sam graduated from Central High School in Paterson in 1948, Paterson State Teachers College (BS) in 1952, and Montclair State Teachers College (MA) in 1956.

He was in the US Army during the Korean War, working as an auditor in the Army Audit Agency.  His professional career was spent in Passaic, NJ, where he served at Passaic High School as a teacher, department head, vice principal, and principal.  The last nine years of his career were spent as the school business administrator and secretary to the Passaic Board of Education.  He retired in 1990.

Sam was a parishioner and usher at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne.  He served on the Congressional Service Academy Review Board for over 25 years.  He also served on the Board of Directors of the Passaic Boys and Girls Club and the Board of Directors of the Sisco Village Senior Citizens Center in Wayne. 

He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law along with thirteen grandchildren - daughter Ann Brooks (Roger) of Durham, NC, and grandchildren, Marie Colarusso (Chris), Phil, (Paula), great grandchildren, Maria and Elizabeth,  Henry (Charis), Annie, and Roger Brooks, Jr.; daughter Maureen Machado (Anthony) of Wayne, and grandchildren, Maggie, Susan, Rebecca, and Elena Machado; and daughter, Linda Harris (Stephen) of Brooklyn,  NY, and grandchildren Gavin, Elizabeth, Lucy, and Jane Harris.  Sam is also survived in a loving relationship by his beloved companion, Anne Donohue, who was at his side since 1987.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Susan Jarkesy Scholarship Fund would be appreciated. In 1981, Sam tragically lost his wife and their daughter Susan, who was just seventeen years old, in a car accident. This scholarship has been established in Susan’s memory to assist high school students toward achieving their dreams, and your donations would be greatly appreciated. Donations should be made payable to “Susan Jarkesy Scholarship Fund” and mailed using the following address:

Susan Jarkesy Scholarship Fund

c/o Kenneth Palczewski

Wayne Valley High School

551 Valley Road

Wayne NJ 07470