Obituary: John Stanley Gawlak Jr., 85, Of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — (From Wallingford Funeral Home): John Stanley Gawlak Jr., 85, of Wallingford, died Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Hartford Hospital. He was the loving husband of Beatrice A. (Parisi) Gawlak.

John was born in Meriden, August 20, 1938, the son of the late John S. Gawlak Sr. and Wanda T. (Michonski) Gawlak and was a life-long resident of Wallingford. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1961; he served four years, achieving the rank of Sergent First Class.

After his service he worked many years at International Silver Co. and CT House of Pewter as a Master Spinner Craftsman of pewter, brass and nickel.

John was an excellent baseball player during his 4 years at Lyman Hall High School. He also played many years in the adult SB league for his sons’ teams as a pitcher and enjoyed coaching several little league teams of his children for many seasons, as well as working as an assistant coach for the 1982 Lyman Hall H.S. State Champion Softball Team.

Most of all, John cherished his family.

Family vacations to the beach areas of Charlestown Beach, RI were always a special highlight annually. John enjoyed being out on or in the water swimming, clamming, and his favorite, blue crabbing. John earned the nickname “McGyver” as he was a home handyman engineer always finding a solution to something. John also provided “daddy daycare” for each one of his beautiful grandchildren so his kids could concentrate on their careers and strengthen the bond of family.

In addition to his wife Bea, he will be missed by his children, John S. Gawlak III and his wife, Kristin, Lisa Deming and her husband, Richard, and Sheri Ciardullo and her fiancé, Howard Greenberg; his grandchildren, Paige-Johna Ciardullo, John “Jake” S. Gawlak IV, Mason Gawlak, Gabriella Gawlak, Thurman Deming and Mickey Deming; as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was predeceased by his daughter, Kelly Gawlak.

John’s family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., on Tuesday, March 26, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment will be private.

Gifts in John’s memory may be sent to Seymour Pink, Inc., P.O. Box 333 Seymour, CT 06483; Wallingford Little League, P.O. Box 552 Wallingford, CT 06492; or Yalesville Little League, P.O. Box 4065 Yalesville, CT 06492.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.