Obituary: Stanley J. Mruk Sr., 88, Retired Fire Chief

Stanley J. Mruk Sr., 88, Fire Chief (retired), of Blackrock Rd., passed away at Kent Hospital on Friday, August 22, 2014. A lifelong resident of Coventry, he was a son of the late Joseph F. and Bertha (Stephanik) Mruk.

Stanley served as a volunteer firefighter at the Anthony Fire Department -Coventry Fire District from the age of 15 before becoming the Fire Chief in 1961 until his retirement in 2006. Chief Mruk established the first centralized fire alarm system for the Town of Coventry, which still serves the town today. He was former Director of Civil Defense in Coventry and a member of the State of Rhode Island Emergency Response Commission until his retirement. Stanley served in the Merchant Marines during WWII. Former owner of SJM Electric Company in Anthony, he was a master electrician. Stanley belonged to the RI Fire Chiefs Association, the East Greenwich Fireman’s Association, the Anthony PNA and Club Jogues.

He was the father of Andrea L. Penardo, Stanley J. Mruk Jr. both of Coventry,

Karen A. Haxton of East Greenwich and Diane E. Hunter of Coventry. He was the brother of Edwin S. Mruk and his wife Cecelia of Larchmont, NY and the late Walter J. Mruk Sr. and Chester J. Mruk. Stanley was the father in law of Clark L. Hunter and the late Ronald E. Haxton, Domenic G. Penardo and Sharon M. Mruk. He was the beloved grandfather of 12, and the great-grandfather of four. Stanley was the former husband of Nathalie V. (Bean) Mruk of Coventry.

His funeral will be Thursday at 9:00 am from the IANNOTTI Funeral Home, 415 Washington St., (Rte.117) Coventry, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in Our Lady of Czenstochowa Church. Interment with military honors in St. Mary Cemetery, West Warwick. Visiting hours are Wednesday 4 -7 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the RI Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation (www.rifirechiefs.com) or the RI Fallen Firefighters Foundation (www.firehero.org) will be appreciated.