John Robert Stephanski Jr.
May 13, 1936 - February 24, 2023
"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back May the sunshine warm your face, the rain fall soft upon your fields.."
Obituary of John Robert "Bobby" Stephanski Jr.
John Robert "Bobby" Stephanski Jr. passed away on February 24, 2023 after a long battle with dementia. Born on May 13, 1936 in Lockport NY, he was the son of J Robert Stephanski Sr and Irene Stephanski.
Bobby graduated from DeSales Catholic School, enlisted in the US Navy in 1958 and spent eight years aboard the USS Currituck where he was the chief mail clerk. He was honorably discharged in 1966, re-enlisted in the US Naval Reserves in 1967 and was honorably discharged again in 1972. His former shipmates would gather annually all over the US and Bobby was assigned the ship's historian position for several years.
He worked for the Bell System from 1966 to retirement from NYNEX in 1997. Bobby was alderman of the sixth ward in Lockport for a term. An avid railroad enthusiast, he donated a full-sized railroad caboose to the Wilson Historical Society in 1980. He loved his family and friends, the Buffalo Sabres and Bills, classical music, was a history buff and loved sitting on his porch after retirement.
Bobby was predeceased by sons, Paul Stephanski Sr; Baby Boy Stephanski; sister Joann Lee; and best friends, Thomas Sy and Richard Southard. He is survived by former wife, Mary "Moira" Stephanski; daughters Carol Ann Stephanski-Horton, Marie Elaine Stephanski and son, John Stephanski; by grandchildren Claire (Mark) Cocco, Sam (Cass) Horton, Colin, Zachary, Paul Stephanski Jr. and great-grandchildren Dominic and Raylynn. Bobby is also survived by sisters Mary Kay Davis, Dr. Margaret Argentine and brother, Charles Stephanski, several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Friends may call on Sunday, March 19th from 4-7PM, at the Taylor and Reynolds Funeral Home, 70 Niagara Street, Lockport NY. A mass service of Catholic burial will be celebrated on March 20 at 12 noon at All Saints R.C. Parish, 76 Church Street, Lockport and interment will be in St Patrick's Cemetery, Lockport.
Sorry I won’t be able to get to your services as we are in N Carolina for the winter. There will be a memorial here in Durham, and I trust you are all at peace with this. Doc
Thank you Dr. Alrutz. We appreciate it very much. The Stephanski Family
I am so sad to her this. Rest in Peace Mr. Stephanski!! My family and I will keep you and the entire Stephanski family in our thoughts and prayers 🙏🙏🙏
THANK YOU PAUL. THE FLOWERS YOU SENT WERE BEAUTIFUL. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE GARY AGAIN. MUCH LOVE! TAKE CARE.
To Mary Kay, Charlie and Margaret– so sorry to learn of Bobby’s passing. He is at peace and happiness now. from Joe and Pat (Conley) Newton
Thank you very much Paulie. We truly appreciate your warm and caring sentiments.
So sorry for the loss of your Dad! I feel like I know him over the years being pals with Carol Ann! So sorry and may he Rest In Peace!
Prayers for the family!!
MARIE, SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR DAD & BROTHER. WANTED YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AT THIS TIME.🙏 FOR YOU.
THANK YOU DEE. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH! WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE AND HONORED MY DAD AND BROTHER AS THEY DESERVED. TAKE CARE. WE WILL TALK SOON.
Sincere condolences to John and the entire Stephanski family. Rest in peace.
Mr. John Robert “Bob” Stephanski, aka Bobby to close family, (or so urban legend has it because I called him Mr. Stephanski) was a hard-working, strong, proud man that I knew as the father of some of my lifelong friends.
Being close friends with his eldest son John, I have been lucky enough to see Mr. Stephanski many times over the last 5 years even more so than I got to as a youth.
Right down to before he passed, Mr. Stephanski lived the way he wanted to, privately, with dignity & pride, & of course with a lot of love & care from his family, especially Carol Ann & John.
I can’t count how many times John had to stop phone calls or working on his house to immediately to attend to his elderly father’s needs whether they be minute or substantial. And it never ceased to amaze me that John would never commiserate or complain about the laborious & tedious maintenance required for an elderly loved one. I knew it wouldn’t even enter his mind because he was loyal to maintaining that his father remain strong & proud in the sunset of his life with the highest quality of care that only family could give. Strong traits learned by a strong man.
So it’s wonderful to know that he passed away feeling loved, secure, & well-taken care so he could maintain that dignity & pride that meant so much to him until the end…& that it is still being practiced & honored by his children.