Obituary of Captain Stephen Lazewski

Captain Stephen Lazewski, of Manalapan Township took his final flight west on December 29, 2009 to meet his wife and his Lord. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Stella, his brothers, Vincent and Joseph, and his sisters, Jeannie Rapant, Josephine Chuisano, Loretta Cuomo, and Dorothy Lukowicz. He was born in Bayonne on August 12, 1915, raised in Englishtown, and was married to Mary T. Lazewski who passed away in 1979. He has three children and their spouses, Barbara Willis and her husband Kent Fleming, Rex Lazewski and his wife, Diane, and Jay Lazewski and his wife, Linda. He was blessed with eleven grandchildren, Jim Willis and his wife, Kelly, BJ Willis and his wife, Holly, Jeremy and John Willis, Bryan Lazewski and his wife Alison, Stephen Lazewski and his wife, Aimee, Michael Lazewski, Chris Lazewski and his wife, Jennifer, Jason Lazewski and his wife, Charlene, Scott Lazewski, and Jenn Lazewski; and ten great grandchildren, Jay and Jack Willis, Brian and Hannah Willis, Anna and Abigail Lazewski, Mathias, Christopher, and Jessie Lazewski, and Logan Lazewski. He grew up on a family farm in Millstone Township and lived his dream of being a commercial pilot. He was Chief Pilot for Princeton University and ran their Civilian Pilot Training Program prior to World War II. He then became a Captain for Trans World Airlines and flew in the Air Transport Command during World War II. He flew aircraft including the DC-3, Martin 404, Lockheed Constellation, Boeing 727, and Lockheed 1011 until his retirement in 1975. During his career he flew many dignitaries and political figures and always enjoyed talking about his flying adventures. He also ran a family farm for over 60 years in Manalapan raising purebred Angus cattle and was active in the New Jersey State Farm Bureau. He was a life member of B.P.O.E. Lodge No. 1454, Freehold and Prince of Peace Council No. 5903, Knights of Columbus, Englishtown. Visiting hours will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Friday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mercy R. C. Church, 58 Main Street, Englishtown on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, 383 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08607-1423.