Richard Czajkowski

Richard Czajkowski, 81 of Manahawkin, NJ passed peacefully at home Thursday, October 31, 2024. 

Rich was born and raised in the Iron Bound Section of Newark, NJ where he met his wife Rose (Salzano) Czajkowski in 1966. They eventually settled in the Fords section of Woodbridge to raise their family. Their love of the water and boating brought he and his family to the Jersey Shore in 1986. They became full-time residents of Manahawkin in 1992 until the time of his passing. Rich started his career as a draftsman designing HVAC systems in the 1960’s. He then went on to a 10-year career at Dun and Bradstreet. Following his family’s entrepreneurial spirit, he left the corporate life to successfully run two small businesses before returning to International Flavors & Fragrances in Hazlet until retiring in 2000. His retirement only lasted a few years. In 2006 he began working as a Purchasing Supervisor for the Stafford Township School District in Manahawkin. Throughout his life Rich was an active participant within his communities. As a younger man he coached little league sports for 10 years while serving as an Executive Board Member for Woodbridge Township Youth Association. He also served 8 years as an officer of the Father’s Club at Bishop Ahr High School in Edison, NJ. Perhaps his largest civic contribution came as he settled into life in Stafford full time. Rich served 3 terms as a Stafford School Board Member which included a two-year term as School Board President. His 3rd and final term was in 2016 at the age of 73. As a Board Member, Richard proposed the idea of an Educational Foundation. With that idea, the Stafford Educational Foundation was formed. In 2006-2007 he was nominated to the Stafford Township Educational Foundation Hall of Fame where he was honored for his contribution to the district. 

Richard is survived by his wife of 56 years, Rose Czajkowski; his son and daughter-in-law, Richard Czajkowski and Jennifer Czajkowski of Brick, NJ.; his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Robert Czajkowski and Dr. Carri Goldstein of Lexington, MA and his two beautiful grandchildren, Brody and Brooke Czajkowski. Rich is also survived by many loving extended family members and dear friends.

Visiting hours will be Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 9:00am to 11:00am at Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home & Cremation Service, LLC, 573 Mill Creek Road, Manahawkin, NJ. A Mass of Christian burial will follow, 11:30am at St. Mary Of The Pines Church, 100 Bishop Lane, Manahawkin, NJ. Entombment immediately after at Ocean County Memorial Park, Wells Mills Road, Waretown, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in his memory to Meridian Hospice at www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org or the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org

A full obituary will follow. Please check back with us. Thank you.