Obituary of Martin F. Kolakowski

Kolakowski, Martin "Marty" Martin Kolakowski, known to friends as "Marty," passed away at home on June 1, 2018 at the age of 77, after a long illness. Marty, a native of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, met the love of his life and soulmate, June (née Brady) in 1957 while working at a summer job at Ohrbach's department store in Manhattan. They married in 1959, and they and their children lived for many years in Greenpoint, downstairs from his parents Francis and Mary (née Sudol). They moved to Bulls Head, Staten Island in 1978. An intelligent, warm, friendly, and humorous man, he dedicated much of his life to quietly and unselfishly providing for his family, who were the center of his life. He worked for over forty years in the container (cardboard box) industry, rising from machine operator to management. Like many other serious photographers, Marty was more comfortable behind the lens, and rarely was photographed without June or another family member. At home, he took pride in maintaining his garden. An avid gamer, Marty mastered a variety of strategy board games, and later computer games, which he frequently played with June and his children. He also enjoyed building models of various types, ranging from ships, to miniature figurine armies (real and fantasy), to model train sets. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 58 years, June (née Brady), his children Victoria (Cynthia) of Oakland, California and Thomas of Bulls Head, his surviving siblings Carol (Joseph) Rickard and Peter (Joyce), and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, his daughter Debra, and siblings Edward (Patricia), Mary (Richard) Paiva, and Donald. Funeral from the Matthew Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 2508 Victory Boulevard, on Monday, departing at 9:00 am. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Pity RC Church at 9:30 am. Private Cremation to follow. Family and friends are invited to visit on Saturday & Sunday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 10 pm.