Obituary of Walter J. Kostuk

Walter J. Kostuk, 66, fell asleep with the Lord on February 8, 2015 at the JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida, with his loving wife and family by his side. Born and raised in Manville, NJ, he was the son of the late Walter P. Kostuk and Eleanor Cop. Walter was a devout parishioner of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Manville, where he served as an altar boy for many years. Walter attended Manville High School and graduated from Rutgers University in 1971. In 2008, he retired from GE/Lockheed Martin Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna, NY, after 35 years of dedicated service as a nuclear physicist. While living in Ballston Spa, NY, Walter and his family were devout parishioners of St. Mary's Catholic Church. After retirement in 2008, Walter and Olga would summer in Cossayuna, NY, and winter in Boynton Beach, FL, where they were devout parishioners of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Walter was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, family man, and friend. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 40 years, Olga Zacharko, two loving children, Stephanie Kostuk, her husband Jose Gonzalez, and their daughter Sonja, of Campbell Hall, NY; Mark Kostuk of San Diego, CA; four siblings, Ray Kostuk, his wife Diane, and their children, Michelle and Marla of Tucson, Arizona; Gloria Kostuk of Bridgewater, NJ; Sister Charlene Kostuk S.S.J. of North Arlington, NJ; and Jeffrey Kostuk of Edison, NJ; and other beloved family members in NJ, NY, and MD. Walter loved everything about airplanes, full scale and radio control. Walt's head would often turn towards the sky, identifying the aircraft flying overhead. He was an avid reader of early aviation history. He earned his private pilot license and enjoyed flying his 1948 Aeronca Chief. Walter's passion was building, flying, and sometimes repairing radio control aircraft. He belonged to the Flying Tigers Club and the Electric Powered Aeromodelers in NY, and the Palm Beach Radio Control Association in FL. Walter loved the water; especially, the ocean. Many family vacations were spent at the beach, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, and sailing together, and at Cossayuna Lake, where the hum of a radio control float plane taking off could be heard. He was involved in his community in NY and in FL. Walter used his knowledge of electricity and his woodworking skills to help family, friends, and neighbors. At the Lakeridge Greens, FL, community, he was a member of the bowling league, Men's Club, Nature Club, and helped with the audio-visual equipment. A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 at the Boynton Memorial Chapel, located at 800 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL. Viewing and funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 21, from 1:00 at St. Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church located at 141 Sarah Wells Trail, Campbell Hall, NY, followed by internment at the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, located next to the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Walter's name to St. Vincent de Paul Society to aid and feed the needy, addressed to the attention of Tim Reese at 10935 South Military Trail, Boynton Beach, FL, 33436. Telephone number: 561-906-7117. Arrangements by Donovan Funeral Home, Inc., Goshen, NY. www.donovanfunerals.com