Dr. John F. Stasik

John F. Stasik was born to Julia (Jendrzejczyk) and John W. Stasik in Pittsburgh, PA on September 11, 1929. His parents were the product of Polish Immigrants. He was one of two children both of whom were afflicted by pneumonia at a young age and John’s younger sister succumbed to the illness at just 6 months of age. Although penicillin was yet to be discovered, his father took him to the hospital where his sister died and the surgeons operated on his back to drain his lungs thereby saving his life. Years later he would point to those scars and tell his young children that they were his “sabre wounds” from war. We believed him for a while.

John attended undergraduate school at the University of Pittsburgh obtaining a degree in Chemistry. After college, he spent two years serving in the US Army during the Korean War. His local dentist encouraged him to attend Dental School at the University of Pittsburgh, where he met and married his wife of 67 years, Mary Alice (nee Toner). Mary is a graduate of Carlow College. John and Mary were married on June 1, 1957 at St. Philomena’s Church in Pittsburgh.

Still in school, he worked sometimes 4 part time jobs at a time, one of which had him taking care of rats in the labs that were used for experiments. After Dental School, John and Mary moved to Cleveland for his internship and residency in Oral Surgery. Once finished he began his career in Philadelphia at a practice and in 1972 ventured out on his own as the independent person he always had been, opening an oral surgery practice on Hulmeville road where he worked until he was 70 years old. During these years, he and Mary raised 6 children with Mary working as a college educated stay at home mother. John had a deep sense of service to the community that educated their children and gave back by running for, and serving on, the Board of School Directors for Bensalem School District.

John was a hard-working father that excelled at anything he tried. To use the words of his beloved wife: “ I think the quality that I’ve always admired about him is his honesty and integrity. I think all of us knew we could depend on him to always do the right thing”. Of course, he had an amazing work ethic that continued through even the last days of his life. He ran or walked two miles a day religiously, he did an hour of math a day and he was a voracious reader – specifically of civil war books and he loved chopping wood. He read the Wall Street Journal back to back daily and loved to talk about investing and the markets and politics.

John will be deeply missed by his beloved wife, Mary (Toner) Stasik. He is also survived by his 6 loving children: Lisa Policare (Frank), Amy Nihill (John), Eric Stasik (Daryl), Guy Stasik, Gail Stasik and Amanda Rennie (Philip); His 17 grandchildren: Jason, Austin, and Brian Bodine, Katelyn McCann, Maya Policare, Kerry Standeven, Kevin Nihill, Gwen Johnson, Patrick Nihill, Emma and James Stasik, Nicole Berner, Torri, Shane, Cyrus Stasik, Finley and Oliver Rennie and 10 great grandchildren.

But far and away, the pride of his life was his one true love – “his girl” Mary. When asked what imperfections she had he said “I would have to make one up and I’m no fool!”

To the rest of the family he was Dad or Grandpa or Pap Pap. Dad lived a full and devout life as a Catholic. He conducted our prayers at every meal, and played Santa Claus on Christmas to hand out the gifts. He had a great laugh and an inquisitive mind. More people knew him than we could ever imagine. He just had that way about him. The kind of guy you just wanted to talk to.

He was our rock, but we all knew we took a backseat to the love he had for Mom. When he had one of his later stays in the hospital that looked pretty grim, he asked us to “take care of my girl”

So, Dad, rest easy and know that we will take care of “your girl”.

Services and interment will be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children (Please see donation link at the bottom of the page). www.tomlinsonfh.com