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November 30, 2023
Services
Visitation and funeral services will be at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church at 285 French Hill Road, Wayne, New Jersey with arrangements by Vander May Funeral Home of Wayne.
The visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, December 4, followed by the funeral service at 7:00 pm.
A Panahida/Memorial Service will be served at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 5 at Holy Resurrection Church followed by interment at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in North Hanover Township, New Jersey at 2:00 pm.
It is with bright sadness, in the hope of the resurrection, that Walter Nemitz died on November 30, 2023, after a brief illness. Walter brought much joy to many during his 96 years of living, spending more than 50 years in Wayne, New Jersey, affectionately being known by many family members as the “Mayor”.
Walter was born in Jermyn, Pennsylvania on July 19, 1927, the 11th child of George and Catherine Nemitz (Pelacek). After graduating from Jermyn High School, he served his country in Korea from 1945-1947 as a World War II veteran in the Army Air Force as an air mechanic and crew member on B-17s and PBY search and rescue planes. Walter returned home to begin a career spanning more than 50 years as a widely respected bartender in Midtown Manhattan, while raising his family in Cambria Heights, Queens, NY. He worked in restaurants and hotels including the Faison D’or Restaurant, Rose Restaurant on 52nd Street, St. Regis Hotel on 5th Avenue, ending his career at the landmark hotel, The Warwick Hotel on 54th and 6th Avenue. As an iconic New York City bartender, Walter served everyone with the same level of exceptional service regardless of their station in life, always ready with a smile and compassionate ear. Along the way, he served many of the Yankee greats at Rose Restaurant, including Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra and Billy Martin. Other celebrities included Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Truman Capote, Liberace, Mayor John Lindsey, Governor Cuomo, and many other notable sports, entertainment, and political figures. Highlights of his career as one of the best bartenders in NYC during the “Mad Men” era, included being the personal bartender for Yankee Manager Ralph Houk during the 1964 World Series, head bartender at the newly renovated Randolph Bar at The Warwick, Hearst’s landmark hotel, where he also served Patty Hearst, Randolph’s granddaughter. It was at The Warwick where Walter ended his career; the hotel provided him with a memorable retirement party attended by his many patrons from over the years.
Walter and Ina Barna married on October 6, 1951, at St. John’s Russian Orthodox Church in Mayfield, Pennsylvania. They had a 72-year marriage that was as good and loving as any, they were a true team to the very end. Together they created a loving and caring home where they raised their three children, James, George, and Lorraine. They taught their children the values of hard work, responsibility, accountability, resilience, faith, and love. Walter spent his retirement in Wayne, New Jersey. He enjoyed an abundant life with his family, friends and was always looking for good values at the grocery store! Walter especially looked forward to a mealtime with a good drink and food, finding pleasure in hosting whoever had the good fortune of sharing that time with him and his beloved, Ina. They were exceptional hosts. Everyone who entered their home was welcomed as royalty. There was no limit to their gracious hospitality, with Walter preparing wonderful cocktails to enjoy and Ina cooking an abundance of food that would rival any kitchen. Their home was always welcoming to those who entered, often being the focal point for both immediate and extended family celebrations, most memorable being the many years of bringing in the New Year! Walter really enjoyed life and truly enjoyed having fun. Walter’s passions included enjoying good food and drink, travel, airplanes and flying, car racing (especially Indy and NASCAR), New York Giants football, reading newspapers, enjoying country western and polka music and being a lifetime member of the Golden Age Club in Wayne, NJ. He embraced and loved living his life fully to the very end.
In many ways the word “dedication” captures one of Walter’s basic characteristics as a person. He was an incredibly dedicated person to his wife, his children, his family, his home, his work, and his church. Walter always held himself to a high standard whether he was building his own garage or making a cocktail for a good friend. He was dependable. He did not let people down; he was a true servant to others and always carried himself with the utmost dignity. Walter was especially dedicated to his Eastern Orthodox faith, serving faithfully for decades in various capacities, including as a parish council member, at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Wayne, New Jersey.
Walter is survived by his loving wife, Ina (Barna); his son James and his wife, Nancy; his son George and his wife, Janine; his daughter Lorraine Ciarfella (Nemitz), and her husband Robert; his four grandchildren, Julianna Quick (Nemitz) and her husband Chris; Melissa Nemitz, Christopher Nemitz, and Alexia Ciarfella; and a great granddaughter, Nora Quick.
In lieu of flowers, please make your donation to Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 285 French Hill Road, Wayne NJ.
May His Memory Be Eternal!
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Visitation and funeral services will be at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church at 285 French Hill Road, Wayne, New Jersey with arrangements by Vander May Funeral Home of Wayne.
The visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, December 4, followed by the funeral service at 7:00 pm.
A Panahida/Memorial Service will be served at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 5 at Holy Resurrection Church followed by interment at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in North Hanover Township, New Jersey at 2:00 pm.
November 30, 2023
Services
Visitation and funeral services will be at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church at 285 French Hill Road, Wayne, New Jersey with arrangements by Vander May Funeral Home of Wayne.
The visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, December 4, followed by the funeral service at 7:00 pm.
A Panahida/Memorial Service will be served at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 5 at Holy Resurrection Church followed by interment at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in North Hanover Township, New Jersey at 2:00 pm.
It is with bright sadness, in the hope of the resurrection, that Walter Nemitz died on November 30, 2023, after a brief illness. Walter brought much joy to many during his 96 years of living, spending more than 50 years in Wayne, New Jersey, affectionately being known by many family members as the “Mayor”.
Walter was born in Jermyn, Pennsylvania on July 19, 1927, the 11th child of George and Catherine Nemitz (Pelacek). After graduating from Jermyn High School, he served his country in Korea from 1945-1947 as a World War II veteran in the Army Air Force as an air mechanic and crew member on B-17s and PBY search and rescue planes. Walter returned home to begin a career spanning more than 50 years as a widely respected bartender in Midtown Manhattan, while raising his family in Cambria Heights, Queens, NY. He worked in restaurants and hotels including the Faison D’or Restaurant, Rose Restaurant on 52nd Street, St. Regis Hotel on 5th Avenue, ending his career at the landmark hotel, The Warwick Hotel on 54th and 6th Avenue. As an iconic New York City bartender, Walter served everyone with the same level of exceptional service regardless of their station in life, always ready with a smile and compassionate ear. Along the way, he served many of the Yankee greats at Rose Restaurant, including Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra and Billy Martin. Other celebrities included Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Truman Capote, Liberace, Mayor John Lindsey, Governor Cuomo, and many other notable sports, entertainment, and political figures. Highlights of his career as one of the best bartenders in NYC during the “Mad Men” era, included being the personal bartender for Yankee Manager Ralph Houk during the 1964 World Series, head bartender at the newly renovated Randolph Bar at The Warwick, Hearst’s landmark hotel, where he also served Patty Hearst, Randolph’s granddaughter. It was at The Warwick where Walter ended his career; the hotel provided him with a memorable retirement party attended by his many patrons from over the years.
Walter and Ina Barna married on October 6, 1951, at St. John’s Russian Orthodox Church in Mayfield, Pennsylvania. They had a 72-year marriage that was as good and loving as any, they were a true team to the very end. Together they created a loving and caring home where they raised their three children, James, George, and Lorraine. They taught their children the values of hard work, responsibility, accountability, resilience, faith, and love. Walter spent his retirement in Wayne, New Jersey. He enjoyed an abundant life with his family, friends and was always looking for good values at the grocery store! Walter especially looked forward to a mealtime with a good drink and food, finding pleasure in hosting whoever had the good fortune of sharing that time with him and his beloved, Ina. They were exceptional hosts. Everyone who entered their home was welcomed as royalty. There was no limit to their gracious hospitality, with Walter preparing wonderful cocktails to enjoy and Ina cooking an abundance of food that would rival any kitchen. Their home was always welcoming to those who entered, often being the focal point for both immediate and extended family celebrations, most memorable being the many years of bringing in the New Year! Walter really enjoyed life and truly enjoyed having fun. Walter’s passions included enjoying good food and drink, travel, airplanes and flying, car racing (especially Indy and NASCAR), New York Giants football, reading newspapers, enjoying country western and polka music and being a lifetime member of the Golden Age Club in Wayne, NJ. He embraced and loved living his life fully to the very end.
In many ways the word “dedication” captures one of Walter’s basic characteristics as a person. He was an incredibly dedicated person to his wife, his children, his family, his home, his work, and his church. Walter always held himself to a high standard whether he was building his own garage or making a cocktail for a good friend. He was dependable. He did not let people down; he was a true servant to others and always carried himself with the utmost dignity. Walter was especially dedicated to his Eastern Orthodox faith, serving faithfully for decades in various capacities, including as a parish council member, at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Wayne, New Jersey.
Walter is survived by his loving wife, Ina (Barna); his son James and his wife, Nancy; his son George and his wife, Janine; his daughter Lorraine Ciarfella (Nemitz), and her husband Robert; his four grandchildren, Julianna Quick (Nemitz) and her husband Chris; Melissa Nemitz, Christopher Nemitz, and Alexia Ciarfella; and a great granddaughter, Nora Quick.
In lieu of flowers, please make your donation to Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 285 French Hill Road, Wayne NJ.
May His Memory Be Eternal!
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