Dick Hudak

Richard “Dick” John Hudak, 85, of Punta Gorda, FL, formerly of Washington Township, passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2009. He was born January 8, 1924, in Philadelphia. Dick served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He graduated from Villanova and Temple Universities with degrees in Marketing and Business Administration. He was employed by Arco in Philadelphia and Los Angeles until his retirement.

No matter where he lived, Dick always felt a sense of responsibility to his community. Whether he was a scout leader in Philadelphia, active in the AMVETS organization, Town Auditor and Borough Councilman in Morton, PA, or accepting an appointment to the Planning Board where he served as chairman in Washington Township, he remained a lifelong volunteer. With the growing population of Washington Township in the early 1960’s, Dick and two other members of the community organized the Whitman Square Fire Company No. 1. He served as treasurer and chef for all shrimp nights, raising money for new equipment. You paid, “$2.00 for all the shrimp you can eat and beer you can drink.” He was also instrumental in getting the 1/8 mil tax passed for the growing township. No more door-to-door collections.

As an active member of St. Charles Borromeo RC Church in Washington Township, Dick was one of the first organizers of the Knights of Columbus, serving as secretary. He developed the church’s first youth group as well as giving guitar lessons and teaching C.C.D.

Dick also took part in stage productions with the “Washington Stage Script Teasers”, playing favorite roles such as the sidekick, Marsellus, in “The Music Man” and King Pellinore in “Camelot”. Already a gifted artist, Dick really pursued this interest after retirement. A novice woodcarver himself, he was asked to form a woodcarving class at Mt. Sinai Senior Citizens Center in Long Island, where he taught a group of beginners. Returning to Lakehurst, NJ, he taught a class of 50 carvers, where many earned his original “purple thumb”! He also enjoyed gardening and working with pencil and oil, but woodcarving beautiful birds, ducks, canes and especially Santas remained his passion. Dick and Lorraine moved to Florida in 1989 from Lakehurst, NJ, to Lady Lake, FL, then to Punta Gorda in 2001. Dick kept himself busy becoming a hospital volunteer in Lady Lake and at the Library in the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda.

This remarkable man was the beloved husband to Lorraine for 59 years and devoted father to Rosemary Amechi of Washington Township. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernestine and John, brother John and grandson Rickie Pascetta. He will be greatly missed by his step-grandson Mark Amechi, his wife Gena and their sons Nicholas and Matthew of Mullica Hill.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his visitation Saturday, September 19, 9:30 – 11:00am at St. Charles Borromeo RC Church, 176 Stagecoach Road, Sicklerville, NJ 08081. Memorial Mass 11:00am at the church. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s memory may be made to Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238, or to your preferred charity.

“A Life Well Lived Is Worth Remembering.”