George Hudak, Jr.

November 5, 1996

Alpha 1958

George Hudak was born in 1935. He joined the army in 1955 and spent most of his enlistment time playing shortstop for the Army baseball team. Shortly after being discharged, he utilized the GI Bill and enrolled at Newark State College.

In 1958 he was chosen to become President of the newest fraternity on campus, Sigma Beta Tau.

Graduating in 1961, he taught handicapped students in Parsippany Hills. In addition to being the 1st President of Tau, he was also the 1st non-faculty person to become Newark State College’s baseball coach beginning in 1962.

Four years later, he married Vera Czecha. They raised two daughters who both graduated from Kean University.

On May 19, 1996 George succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 61. A short time later, an endowment was created in his memory designated to Kean’s baseball team. It currently has more than $100,000 that each year helps to defray the costs of travel for Spring training.

George is most remembered as a generous, dedicated American who always gave of his time and talents. George also served as Mayor of Linden and in the N.J. State Legislature representing the greater Linden area. He was an inspiration to all who knew him.

Written by Brother Jim Hynes

The following is from the Asbury Park Press, November 5, 1996.

LINDEN — Former Mayor George Hudak, a quiet, unassuming politician who also served as a state assemblyman, died at home yesterday of an apparent heart attack, he was 61.

Police were called to Mr. Hudak’s Verona Avenue home at 4:42 p.m., after a relative found the former mayor slumped in the master bathroom, said Lt. Walter Drake. Hudak was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. The cause of death is believed to be a heart attack.

Mr. Hudak, a native of Linden, served in elected office for almost three decades, retiring from politics at the end of his last slate Assembly term in 1993. He served as mayor from 1983 to 1987. Mr. Hudak, though one of the staunchest of Democrats, was a “deep thinker’ who was able to get his point across in Assembly caucuses and earned the respect on both sides of the political aisle in Trenton, said former Elizabeth Mayor Thomas G. Dunn Sr,, a longtime political colleague who, with Hudak, represented the 20th District in the state Assembly.

Mr, Hudak graduated from Linden High School and went on to earn a  degree in education from Kean College in 1961, preparing him for a career as a teacher of handicapped children.

He was elected to the City Council in 1965 and served as its president in 1979. During his single term as mayor, he was elected in 1985 to the state Assembly to represent the 20th District, then comprised of Elizabeth, Linden, Rahway, and Carteret. The district was later revised to comprise Elizabeth, Linden, Rahway and Roselle.

Mr, Hudak declined to seek re-election as mayor. Instead, he served four terms it the Assembly seat, until the end of 1993.

Surviving are his wife, Vera, and two daughters, Christine and Diane.