Starks W. Lewis, Jr., beloved brother, uncle, father, grandfather, husband, friend and neighbor, died peacefully in his sleep at home in Nutley, NJ, on Friday, July 10, 2015, at 77 years old. He was born on October 1, 1937, in Ossining, NY, son of Clarinda M. Crane and Starks W. Lewis, Sr. He went through the Ossining Public Schools, and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Clarkson College of Technology (now Clarkson University) in Potsdam, NY, in 1959. He also earned an MBA degree from Baruch.
His engineering career spanned a range of infrastructure projects with several employers, including fendering systems for docks and ships; drying equipment for paper mills, and filtration systems for water treatment plans.
He retired in 2007 as chief mechanical engineer at the Union County Department of Engineering. He lived in Union, NJ, for over twenty-five years.
He had a lifelong interest in the American Red Cross, inspired by the story of his maternal grandmother Cherrie M. French’s service as a Red Cross nurse in Cuba in 1898 during the Spanish-American war. He donated nearly twenty gallons of blood, both whole blood and platelets. Through the years he volunteered in Union for many organizations including the Red Cross, Interfaith Council for the Homeless, the Boys & Girls Club and the Suffragettes Girls Softball League. Interested in all things Navy, he was a life member of the Navy League of the United States, serving for many years as the treasurer of the North Jersey Chapter. A lifelong Episcopalian, he served on the Vestry of St. Luke and All Saints Episcopal Church in Union for twenty years and was a Lay Reader Licensed to Administer the Chalice.After moving to Nutley in 2003, he transferred his church membership to Grace Episcopal Church in Nutley. He volunteered as a driver for the Nutley chapter house of the Red Cross. With his innumerable tools and gadgets he liked keeping things in shape at home, at work, and at church. He was a great neighbor, loved dogs & birds, and watched sports tournaments, especially hockey, with great enthusiasm. He was a kind of human GPS system, delighting to supply maps and directions to family and friends for their comings and goings.
Through his knowledge of the flag code of the U.S.A., he was a stickler about the proper display of Old Glory, and he flew the American flag with great pride wherever he lived.
Mr. Lewis is survived by his wife, Judith A. Hinds; older brother, Richard C. Lewis of Athens NY, younger brother James A. Lewis of Ossining NY; four children: son Eric B. Lewis of Wyckoff from his first marriage, and three daughters from his second, Kimberly Helwig of Flagstaff AZ, Jennifer Doyle of Dobbs Ferry NY, and Kristin Luedtke of Reno NV. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Julia, Melanie and Heather Lewis (Eric); Aaron and Michael Helwig (Kimberly); Caileigh and Michael Doyle (Jennifer); Troy and Drew Leudtke (Kristin). He is also survived by cousins John Lewis, Lewis P. Lewis, and Ann Molinaro; nephews Richard R. Lewis of Stamford CT, Marc A. Lewis of Yorktown Heights NY, and James A Lewis Jr of Otego NY; and a niece Deborah Probst of Palmetto FL.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 16, at 2:30 pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 200 Highfield Lane, Nutley, NJ, with repast to follow. Arrangements by O’Boyle Funeral Home, 309 Broad Street, Bloomfield. Please express condolences at www.oboylefuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, or the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside NJ 07205.