OBITUARY PROVIDED BY CLASSMATE CHARLES BUTLER:
Deceased Classmate: 1962. Michael Stefanchik
Date Of Birth: Oct-13-1944
Date Deceased: Apr-17-2015
Age at Death: 70
Classmate City: Princeton
Classmate State: NJ
Classmate Country: USA
Was a Veteran: Yes Army
Survived By: Wife: Martha Daughter: Christa Sons: Michael, Peter, Joseph and John Sister: Cynthia
Class president
Surrounded by, and immersed in the abundant love of his wife, Martha, and all of their children, Michael Stefanchik III went into the hands of our Eternal Father on Friday, April 17th. He was a servant of God, of his family, his community and the nation. He was a loving husband, proud father of five children and grandfather of three.
A man of great faith, he was an active parishioner of Saint Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Princeton, where his daughter, Christa, teaches the 4th Grade in Saint Paul’s School. Over the years he served on the Parish Council, the Diocesan Pastoral Council and was a member of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, the Knights of Columbus and several community focused organizations.
He was an avid golfer and student of the game, a love he shared with his son, Peter, the Head PGA Professional at Elmwood Country Club in White Plains, NY. He had an expressive talent he sparingly displayed in sketches and paintings, but that he shared prolifically with his son, Joseph, an award winning professional photographer with Chrisman Studios. He shared both his love of golf and artistic expression with his son, John, a musician who is with D’Angelico Guitar Company of America in New York City and at Due Process Stable Country Club in Colts Neck, NY.
A veteran, retired with the rank of Captain, he served as an Infantry Lieutenant in South Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star for Valor and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, a distinction shared by his son, Michael, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Special Forces at Fort Bragg, NC. Following his wartime service, he worked for 31 years as an Out-of-State Auditor for the State of Indiana Department of Revenue, retiring in 2001. The absence of his great gift of being able to easily engage almost anyone, even complete strangers, in conversation together with his wry sense of humor, which he readily shared, will be dearly missed.
He is preceded in death by his father, Michael Stefanchik Jr., and mother, Theresa. He is survived by his sister Cynthia (Jon) Readnour of North Clarendon, VT.
The Kimble Funeral Home, at 1 Hamilton Avenue in Princeton, will host a Visitation/Life Celebration on Wednesday 22 April from 4 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will begin on Thursday, 23 April 11:00a.m. at the funeral home with a Christian Mass of Resurrection celebrated at Saint Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 214 Nassau Street in Princeton at 11:30 a.m. A graveside ceremony with military honors at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, PA will follow. The family requests continued prayers for Mike and in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Saint Paul’s Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08540.