Mr. Joseph W. Gontarski

Born, September 26, 1931 in Pawtucket, R.I., left us peacefully on Friday, May 8, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph F. and Bertha (Hopp) Gontarski; and sister, Nora. He was Valedictorian of his high school class at St. Rays Academy in Pawtucket, R.I. He was a graduate of Fordham University, where he played football, and later received an MBA from the University of Tennessee. After a distinguished 20-year military career, serving his country stateside and overseas in the U.S. Army, he retired as Col. He served in Korea and Vietnam in the U.S. Army Transportation Corp.. Col. Gontarski received the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam. Following a post-military career in New York City with Norton Lilly Int’l, Mr. Gontarski was selected by the Tampa Port Authority as port director in 1977, serving in that capacity for five years. For the next 26 years, he was special assistant to the executive director of Port Manatee, where he is credited with much of that port’s unprecedented growth. During his maritime career, he received many honors, including being elected by his peers as chairman of the Florida Ports Council, chairman of the Tampa Bay Harbor Safety Committee and being chosen as Maritime Person of the Year by the Port Manatee Propeller Club; additionally honored as Maritime Person of the Year by the Southeast Region of the International Propeller Club of the United States. He was the beloved husband to his bride of 57 years, Lorraine Marie (LaFlamme) Gontarski. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister-in-law Barbara L. Presnick, and loving nieces and nephews. He enjoyed the companionship of many loving rescue dogs and, in lieu of flowers, requested that condolences be expressed with gifts to the Tampa Bay Humane Society. A memorial service will be held on June 4th at 11am at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church, 4518 South Manhattan Avenue, Tampa, Florida. Arrangements handled by Blount & Curry, MacDill Chapel, 813-876-2421.