William Wandzilak

William Wandzilak June 21, 1926 - August 2, 2010 In retirement, William Wandzilak of Ossining earned himself a nickname: Bow tie Bill, because of the natty neckwear he wore, especially when he went ballroom dancing, often several times a week. Mr. Wandzilak died Sunday at Bethel Nursing and Rehab Center in Croton-on-Hudson (from lymphoma and other medical issues). He was 84. A resident of Ossining since September, 1970, Mr. Wandzilak was born in Yonkers on June 21, 1926. He graduated from Gorton High School in Yonkers in 1943. He attended his class reunion this past fall. A Navy veteran of World War II, he served between 1944 and 1946 on a PT boat in the Pacific. He continued his education when he returned from the service, then worked for a number of companies, starting at Sperry Corp. and ending at Harrick Scientific in Ossining. Outside of work, Mr. Wandzilak was active, starting in the late 1970's, in the Ossining Music Parents Association. He and his wife, Jean (Ruyack), helped chaperone many high school band exchanges. They were married on Jan. 26, 1952. She died on March 8, 1996. In the last decade, Mr. Wandzilak became an active senior ballroom dancer. He attended least one dance a week, on average, and took a weekly ballroom dance class. Mr. Wandzilak is survived by three children (all graduates of Ossining High School): Nadine Wandzilak, and her husband, Paul Sylvester, of Reading, MA; Paula Kelly and her husband, Tom Kelly, of Colorado Springs, CO; and Mark Wandzilak and his wife, Deborah Wandzilak, of Wesley Chapel, NC; and four grandchildren. Mr. Wandzilak's four siblings, Theodore Wandzilak, Rose Wandzilak, Natalie Adamo and Olga Rudin, and their parents, Jacob and Melania (Honcharik) Wandzilak, predeceased him. Visiting hours are today, Tuesday, Aug. 3, at Dorsey Funeral Home, in Ossining, 14 Emwilton Place, from 2 to 4 and 7 -9 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday morning, Aug. 4, at 10:30am, Followed by the entombment at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Putnam Valley. Dorsey Funeral Home, Inc. 14 Emwilton Pl., Ossining 914-941-0167 www.dorseyfuneral.com