Obituary of Emil Lopata
EMIL LOPATA
MARCH 26, 1945 – JUNE 12, 2024
Emil Lopata
Retired PSEG Chief Welder Mechanic
Emil Lopata went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at the age of 79, following a short but hard-fought battle with cancer. He passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family.
Emil was born March 26, 1945 in Niedzica, Poland, to Anna (Morawczynska) and Jan Lopata. Emil was raised in Niedzica, emigrating to the United States in 1960 with his family. He lived in Englishtown, NJ and North Vandergrift, PA, before moving to Union, NJ, where he met the love of his life, Bonnie Huster, whom he married in 1966. He lived in Hillside, NJ for 18 years before moving to Bridgewater, NJ 40 years ago.
Emil began his career as a welder and worked for 10 years at Interstate Iron Works in Hillside, NJ. Later, he became a part of PSEG in Sewaren, NJ. During his 28-year tenure, he was responsible for monitoring and fixing nuclear turbines at the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations. He ultimately retired in 2004 as Chief Welder Mechanic.
Following his retirement, Emil joined the Township of Bridgewater (Police Department Traffic Division) as a school crossing guard on Stony Brook Drive behind Van Holten School. Emil crossed hundreds of Van Holten School students over the years, all of whom he affectionately referred to as “my kids”. During his time as “the grandfather of Stony Brook”, he developed lasting friendships with many of the local families and residents.
For 15+ years Emil was an usher for the Somerset Patriots – what he referred to as his “dream job”. He greeted everyone he met with a friendly smile and ensured that all his patrons were comfortable and happy. Emil was the man behind the Santa costume at the Patriots’ “Christmas in July” celebrations, and he spearheaded and organized the annual Patriots’ Polish Night Out celebration. He also spent many seasons as an usher for the Rutgers football and basketball programs.
Known affectionately as “Big E”, he had a larger-than-life personality, and will be remembered for his welcoming smile, witty sense of humor, humbleness, and willingness to always lend a helping hand. Emil always honored his word, and true to his word, he refused to return to Poland until the then-installed communist government changed. Thirty years later in 1990, after Poland’s Solidarity Trade Union led to the fall of communism in the country, Emil finally returned with his family. The hardships he suffered under communism during his formative years in Poland instilled in him an incredible appreciation of the freedoms he so greatly enjoyed here in the United States. Emil was a true American Patriot, and he loved this country. He never took for granted his achievement of the “American Dream”.
Emil was a parishioner of Pluckemin Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed traveling (including his annual trips to Cape May at Christmastime), cooking (his signature pea soup and roast pork loin dishes), gardening, watching western shows and movies, rooting for his beloved New York Mets and New York Rangers and listening to Elvis. He especially loved spending time with friends and family, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, and enjoying a good beer and cigar!
Emil’s greatest accomplishment is his family. He was incredibly proud that his legacy is the love of his wife, his two daughters, his two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. Emil was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Joseph Lopata. Emil is survived by his wife of 58 years, Bonnie; his daughter Jennifer Grubb and her husband Kevin, of Flemington; his daughter Pamela Driscoll and her husband Tom, of Bridgewater; his sisters Margaret Bandura of Colonia and Mary Blake of Jupiter, FL; his grandchildren, to whom he was their beloved “Dziadziu”: Brian Grubb, Jason Grubb, and twins Timothy Driscoll and Noelle Driscoll; his sister-in-law Joyce Miller, of Avon CT; many cousins (in the US, Poland and Slovakia); and many nieces and nephews, including his wonderful caregivers - niece Traci Schwann and her husband Dr. Tom Schwann of Avon, CT and his grand-niece Dr. Alexandra Schwann-Deng of Hartford, CT. He also leaves behind many dear friends. The family would like to thank Bright Star Care nurses Rifa and Rosalee for their excellent care the past few months.
Viewing services will be held at the Higgins Home For Funerals, Watchung, from 2:00-4:00pm and 7:00-9:00pm on Tuesday, June 18th. All are welcome. A Church Service will be held at Pluckemin Presbyterian Church, Pluckemin, on Wednesday, June 19th at 11:30 am. Burial will follow at Hollywood Cemetery, located at 1621 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Emil’s name to the Medical Equipment Ministry at Pluckemin Presbyterian Church. Donations may be made at ppch.org/give or to the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church Medical Equipment Ministry, 279 Rt. 202-206, PO Box #402, Pluckemin, NJ 07978.
