Obituary: Father Radomski, 88, served more than six decades in Metuchen, Trenton Dioceses

Father Joseph A. Radomski, a priest for 61 years, died Nov. 7. He was 88.

Father Radomski was born in 1935 in Manville to the late Joseph Felix and Amelia Radomski. He attended St. Peter High School, New Brunswick, where he competed on the track team. He prepared for the priesthood in St. Thomas College Seminary, Bloomfield, Conn, where he completed four years of Latin studies in one year and finished two years of college from 1953-1956. He continued in Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, from 1956-1962, and was ordained a priest May 26, 1962, by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

Through the course of his ministry, Father Radomski served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Trenton, some which later became part of the Diocese of Metuchen at its foundation in 1981. He was assigned as a parochial vicar in St. Joseph, Trenton; St. Mary of Ostrabrama, South River, and Sacred Heart, South Amboy. As pastor, he served in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Great Meadows; St. Mary Parish, Perth Amboy, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Avon, (now part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Bradley Beach), from 1979 until he retired in 2006. He also served as temporary administrator in Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, South Plainfield, and Holy Family Parish, Carteret.

When Father Radomski celebrated his golden jubilee in 2012, he said in an interview with The Monitor that he enjoyed is 26 years in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish where he found the people to be “very nice and helpful.”

One solemn memory he shared was when a fire broke out in the church and its interior sustained significant smoke and water damage. It was from the ashes of the fire that he was able to rebuild and restore not only the original church, which seated 290 people, but was also able to construct an addition to accommodate another 200 worshipers, as well as refurbish the church basement to provide meeting space for parish ministries and organizations. Since the addition was rebuilt during the Marian Year, all of the stained-glass windows were replaced and dedicated to the Blessed Mother.

The extra space provided by the project was especially necessary in the summer months when vacationers to the Jersey Shore would visit the parish for Mass.

In addition to his parents, Father Radomski was predeceased by his sister-in-law, Connie Radomski, and his nephew, Walter Radomski Jr. He is survived by his brother, Walter Sr. of Manville; Stanley (and wife Dorothy) of Ewing, and Anthony (and wife Arlene) of Venice, Florida, as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; two aunts and many cousins.

Funeral services were held Nov. 13 with a viewing in the Ketusky Funeral Home, 1310 Brooks Blvd., Manville. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 14 in Sacred Heart Church, Manville.

Burial followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Hillsborough.

Prepared by Mary Stadnyk, associate editor, The Monitor, Diocese of Trenton.