Obituary of Walter F. Dembiec

WALTER F. DEMBIEC, 76 Retired AT&T Professional, 76, Golfer, Bird-Watcher and MMA/Kick-Boxer Walter F. Dembiec, 76, of Hilton Head Island, SC (formerly of Westfield, NJ) passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 17, 2018, surrounded by his family, after an almost 20-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Walt was born in Somerville, NJ in 1941 and was raised in Raritan, NJ. Following graduation, Walt accepted a job with AT&T Bell Labs in Murray Hill, where he worked for the next 38 years. He wed Karen Nelson in April 1963, and they were happily married for 55 years. Walt and Karen raised four children in Westfield, NJ where Walt enjoyed coaching little league baseball, rooting for the NY Yankees and serving as both a Deacon and Elder with the Presbyterian Church in Westfield. Walt took an early retirement in 1996 and he and Karen relocated to Hilton Head Island, SC. In retirement, Walt loved playing golf, bird-watching and spending time with friends and family. Walt stayed active in the Providence Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and also worked as Treasurer on the annual Men of the Church Golf and Prayer Breakfast inviting a current PGA Tour Professional to serve as the Keynote Speaker. As Walt’s Parkinson’s Disease progressed, he decided to aggressively fight back, and so with the help of his wife, he helped found the inaugural affiliate of Rock Steady Kick-Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for Parkinson’s patients at Riptide Gym in Bluffton, ultimately being featured in a cover story in the Hilton Head Monthly Magazine (January 2016 Issue). Known best for his calm spirit and reserved disposition, Walt was the quiet foundation of his extended family. Walt was predeceased by his father, Frederick Dembiec and his mother, Ann Dembiec. He is survived by his four adult children, Walter Dembiec, Jr. of Westfield, NJ, Jeffrey Dembiec of Scotch Plains, NJ, Christopher Dembiec of Las Flores, CA and Jamie Mitchell of Seneca, SC and his 11 grandchildren. Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at 11:00 am at Providence Presbyterian Church, 171 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC, 29926 and on July 21, 2018 at 11:00 am at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, 140 Mountain Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org) Arrangements by The Island Funeral Home and Crematory. islandfuneralhome.com