Edward Thomas Ponek

A memorial service for Edward will be held Wednesday, August 10, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM at JC Raulston Arboretum - A. E. Finley Rooftop Terrace, 4415 Beryl Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606, followed by a reception from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Ed Ponek was born on March 6, 1933 as the first child of two hard-working, immigrant parents. His Mom, Mary Hanlon, immigrated from Dunloe, County Donegal, Ireland at the age of 17. Ed’s Dad, Edward senior, left Krakow, Poland as a 5-year old with his and entered the US through Ellis Island. Ed Senior and Mary met, married and worked together on the Colgate Estate in New Vernon, New Jersey. Ed senior eventually became an estate supervisor while Mary became their lead domestic helper. The Colgates provided Ed senior and Mary with a farm house just down the field which was lovingly named Wee Holly. When Mr. Colgate’s wife passed in the 1950’s, he sold Holly Hill but very kindly gifted Wee Holly to Ed’s parents.

Wee Holly was at the core of Ed’s life for nearly 60 years until his dear Mom passed. It was at Wee Holly with its the surrounding open fields and gentle brooks that Ed developed his love of nature and connection with the outdoors. As a child he became an avid sportsman, spending many happy hours walking the countryside with his hunting pup, Zeb.

Ed attended Bayley Ellard High School in Madison, NJ and went on to graduate from Seton Hall University in the ROTC program. After graduating from Seton Hall in 1955, he served in the military police in Pusan, Korea.

Returning from Korea, Ed and his first wife, JoAnn, settled in Florham Park, NJ where they raised their 3 children, Sandra, Randi, and Scott. Ed worked for over 30 years as a safety director at Maher Terminals, helping to guide the company from the days when imports arrived to harbor in wooden boxes through the onset of containerization. He was highly respected in his field, serving on the Chairman of the Safety Committee of the New York Shipping Association and on the American Society of Safety Engineers.

In Florham Park Ed received the Jaycees Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of his many hours of volunteering. He was a member of the volunteer first aid squad, the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment, he chaired the master planning committee, served on the Fourth of July committee, and was later elected to the City Council.

In addition to his many hours of volunteering, Ed continued his love of the outdoors often rising early on Saturday mornings to go out with one of his children and his bird dog to go hunting. He also had a big yellow canoe and built a kayak with his son, Scott. He enjoyed fishing on the Delaware River and NJ lakes.

Ed met his second wife, Mary Stack-Ponek at Maher Terminals and they married in 1983. Ed was married to Mary for over 30 years until she sadly passed, too young, in May 2016. In marrying Mary, Ed was blessed with not only a loving wife, but also a wonderful expanded family. Mary’s 3 children, Debbie, Karl, and Jay became his children as well. Many of Mary’s children and grandchild have shared that Ed became their Dad and Grand Dad and he loved them all dearly.

After retiring, Ed and Mary relocated from their home in Piscataway, NJ to Raleigh, NC in the early 1990s. Ed spent many happy years in retirement volunteering with the Gardeners of Wake County and Mary and Ed were active in their bowling league. They also developed a wonderful new community with dear neighbors, Susan and Tim and Cathy and Eric and their families in their Maplefield Drive home.

While the details of his life are interesting, most importantly, Edward Ponek’s friends and family will remember him as a kind, gentle and caring man. He will be missed dearly.

Ed is survived by his children from his first marriage: Sandra Ponek of San Rafeal, CA and her husband Angel; Randi Ponek (daughters Anna and Julia) of Seattle, WA and her husband Steve; and Scott Ponek (son, Alex) of Geyersville, CA. He is also survived by Mary’s children: Debra Henderson (sons, Jason and Christopher and daughters, Danielle and Sarah) of Newton, NJ and her husband Vincent; Jay Magenheimer (daughter Jasmine) of Clayton, NC and Jasmine’s Mom, Judy; and he is pre-deceased by Karl Magenheimer (daughters Sabrina (2 sons), Corey Ann, Amanda (2 sons and 2 daughters) and Ashley, and son, Michael) of Flower Mound, TX who is survived by his wife Lena.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownwynneeastmillbrook.com for the Ponek family.