Thomas Novak
Thomas Novak, 87, of Brownsville, Pa., died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005. He was born May 13, 1917, on a farm in East Millsboro, Pa., the son of the late John Ivan and Barbara K. Stos Novak.
He attended the Redstone Township High School and graduated from Brownsville High School in 1935. He also graduated from Capitol Radio Engineering in Washington, D.C., in 1942, as a Radio Engineer. He was a television serviceman and an electronic technician for 20 years with Novak Television Company, and prior to retirement was employed as assistant Superintendent and Plant Foreman for 12 years for Brownsville Municipal Authority.
He was a Brownsville Councilman in the Fifth Ward for 12 years, from 1967 to 1979.
S/Sergeant Thomas Novak was a veteran of World War II and served for 47 months in the U.S. Army Signal Corps being attached mostly to the 20th Air Force. He served in the American Theatre Operation in the Antisubmarine Command and in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre in the air offense against Japan, where he received the Bronze Star and a Commendation for Meritorious Service.
He was a member of St. Mary’s R.C. Church of Brownsville, and also a member of the American Legion Kramer -Axton Post 295 of Brownsville, Pa.
He is survived by his wife, Stella Koszewski Novak; a son, Thomas Novak Ph.D., and wife, Deborah Novak Ph.D. of Blacksburg, Va.; daughters, Stephanie Novak Stekas PH.D., and husband, James Stekas Ph.D., of Murray Hill, N.J., and Mary Ann Novak of Owings Mills, Md.; four grandchildren, Matthew and Gregory Novak and Barbara K. and Nicholas D. Stekas; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by brothers, John, Mike, Steve, Charles, Frank and George Novak; and sisters, Mary Gregg and Ann L. Weaver.
Friends will be received in the SKIRPAN FUNERAL HOME, 135 Park St., Brownsville, Pa., today from 6 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m., where a prayer service will be held on Thursday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m., in the Historic Church of St. Peter, Brownsville, Pa., with the Rev. Fr. James Petrovsky as celebrant. Entombment will be in LaFayette Memorial Park. Full military rites will be accorded by American Legion Posts 275, 295, 940 and 838.