Edward Stanley Kowalski Jr.

Calais – Edward S. “Ski” Kowalski Jr., 67, passed away unexpectedly at his home Thursday, September 9, 2010. Ed was born in Camden, NJ on September 24, 1942, son of Edward Kowalski Sr. and Wanda (Bednarczyk) Kowalski. Ski attended St. Joseph School in Camden, NJ and entered the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 on October 8, 1959. During his 21 year naval career, Ed served on many ships. While his ship was docked in Eastport, he met his future wife, Sandra Haddock. They married on December 1, 1962. Ed taught at Navy schools in the Philadelphia Navy Yard and Pearl Harbor, HI. Ed served as Command Master Chief of Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC and during the Vietnam War he served in the waters of Vietnam aboard the USS Joseph Strauss DDG16. Ski retired from the Navy on July 31, 1979. Shortly after his retirement from the U.S. Navy, Ed began his second career with the Military Sealift Command, where he retired as Chief Engineer in 1997. During his career with the Military Sealift Command, Ed served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was a member of the Sherman Bros. Post #3 American Legion in Calais; a lifetime member of Boyd-Smith Post #9779 V.F.W. where he was a Past District Commander; lifetime member of the Fleet Reserve Assoc. Branch 60 in Norfolk, VA; lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans; lifetime member of Vietnam Veterans of America; and the Polish American Citizens’ Club of Camden County, NJ. Ed was predeceased by his mother, Wanda. Surviving are his father Edward Kowalski Sr. of Woodbury, NJ; his loving wife Sandra Kowalski; two children, Teresa Kowalski of Calais, and Michael Kowalski and his wife Rhonda of Groton, CT; two grandchildren, Jessica Kowalski and Brenna Corbett, both of Calais; two brothers, Joe Kowalski and his wife Dot of Cherry Hill, NJ, and John Kowalski and his wife Donna of Runnemede, NJ; two uncles, Leonard and Betty Bednarczyk, and Stanley and Connie Bednarczyk, all of NJ; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and his faithful canine companion Molly. Visiting hours will be held 1 – 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Church St., Calais, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3 p.m. by Father David Sivret. Burial will be held in the Calais Cemetery at a later date. Donations in Ed’s memory may be made to the Boyd-Smith Post #9779 V.F.W., c/o St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 29 Church St., Calais, ME 04619. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.