Stephen Stadnicki

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Stephen Stadnicki of Wading River, New York passed-away on Friday June 19, 2020 at the age of 95 years old.  He left us peacefully from his most recent residence at the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook, New York.

Stephen was born on January 8, 1925 in Wading River to Mary Shwonik and Wasyl Stadnicki. He was the first of 24 children to be baptized at the newly built St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church in Riverhead, New York where he eventually served as a trustee for many years.

Steve, as he was called by his family and friends, graduated from Port Jefferson High School. This is where he met Catherine Bennett, the love of his life. Steve told of times he walked from Wading River to Port Jefferson to court her. True love, for sure!

When not spending time with Kay, as he called her, he played Baseball, Football and ran Track.

Steve joined the United States Merchant Marines and proudly served during World War II as a steward for the officers. He said he got to meet a lot of famous people during his service. He never really talked much about his service until his later years. When questioned by his children about how he knew how to do something, he often replied, “Just a little trick I learned in the Orient”

After his military service, Steve married Kay and started working various jobs including working in a hardware store, and sanding/ finishing floors. He started raising a family in Wading River and after being offered a managerial position at The Shoreham Squab Farm, then the World’s Largest Known Squab Farm, he moved his family to Shoreham. Steve worked at the farm for 35 years until a fire destroyed the farm. After the farm Steve worked at Peerless Photo in Shoreham for a while before taking and finally retiring from a position in the Maintenance Department of the Shoreham Wading River School District.

Steve was always a hard worker and all the while he was working his steady jobs he managed to take on additional side-jobs for extra money to better support his family. Besides seemingly working all the time he still managed to find time for playing softball and pursuing his love of photography.

He was a good father and husband who always took care of his children and did the best he could to teach and guide them, a loving grandfather and great-grand father.

A gentle, kind, and patient man who always had time to help those in need.

Steve was a strong, proud, and good man. He loved his neighbor and honored his God. I am sure his Guardian Angel, who he often referred to, has found a soft place for his soul to find rest. He is loved and will be missed by many!

He is preceded by his loving wife and one son and survived by three sons and their wives, twelve Grandchildren and fourteen Great-Grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church, Riverhead, NY