John “Johnny” Gilbert Goleski, of Southampton, died Dec. 6, 2011, at age 83 at after a long battle with a rare muscle degenerating disease called inclusion body myositis.
He was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie Wetmore Goleski, who passed away in September 1972.
He was the last surviving member of his generation, which includes his brothers and sisters, Mary Zelenski, Josephine Golas, Stanley Goleski, Genevieve Zuyus and Charlie Goleski. His parents, Anna Golas and John Golas, from Poland, predeceased him as well.
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He is survived by his three children, Robert D. Goleski, John Gary Goleski and Eugene A. Goleski, his eight grandchildren and his five great-grandchildren.
He was born on June 9, 1928, in Bridgehampton.
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He and the Goleski family moved to Tuckahoe around 1936.
He graduated from in 1947 and played several sports including golf, in which he was one of the top players in Suffolk County.
He worked for for several years and started his own company with Doug Chaulk in 1952. It was known as the Hampton Tree Expert Company and he later became sole owner in 1970 and retired from the business in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life he enjoyed lobstering, crabbing, fishing, clamming, scalloping, gardening and other outdoor activities.
In his early 20s he played softball for the Arrow Laundry Team and met his soon to be wife Marjorie A. Wetmore. John married Marjorie at in Southampton on Aug. 13, 1950.
In 1953, John and Marge moved into their new house next to the Goleski family homestead in Southampton. John and Marge had three children in the early 1950s, Bobby, Gary and Genie.
Soon thereafter, John became a member of the and won the club championship title in 1962. He also became a founder member several years later and was very active in the club until just a few years ago. During the winter months he bowled for the suburban auto team and the father and son league. He was also a member of the .
John served in the U.S. Army Reserve in the early 1950s.
Upon the passing of his wife, John met his close friend and life companion, Rose Strand and her family.
Once he retired, he spent most of his time golfing, socializing or helping others.
He was a prime example of an unselfish, kind-hearted man with a great positive, outgoing personality. He touched the lives of many with his generosity, concern and kindness to everyone.
John G. Goleski was buried on Dec. 10 along side his wife, Marjorie Goleski, in Sacred Hearts Cemetery.
