Obituary of Andrew J. Hudak

Andrew J. Hudak Sr. Andrew J. Hudak, Sr., 60, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 with his loving family at his side after an eight-month battle with cancer. "Andy," as his family and friends called him, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 12, 1948, son of the late Andrew and Helen Metarko Hudak. He was educated in Cleveland and enlisted the United States Air Force in September of 1967. Upon completion of his basic training he was stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base, in Rome, N.Y. in the 416th SPS. On September 6, 1969, he married Patricia Baptiste in St. John the Baptist Church. In August of 1970, he and his family were reassigned to Hahn Air Force Base, Germany. Upon return to Rome, Andy worked for Sears Roebuck for many years. In 1980, he and his wife began operation of Tom and Jerry Liquors. Andy loved sports, especially baseball, a game he excelled at. He played for Squadron teams while in the service and for several local softball teams upon his discharge from the military. He also bowled for many years, but his favorite sport was fishing and he could be found fishing up and down the Mohawk River most summer evenings. Surviving, besides his wife Patty, are a daughter and son-in-law, JuneAnn and Richard Rogers , Fort Plain, N.Y.; a son and daughter-in- law, Andrew Jr. and 2nd Lt. U.S. Army Rachel Hudak, Mannheim, Germany and Afghanistan; grandchildren, Cameron, Olivia, Brieanna and Sarah. Also surviving are his brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Linda Hudak, Cleveland, Ohio; a sister and brother-in-law, Marian and James Knill, Strongsville, Ohio; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, William and Carrie Baptiste, Manlius, N.Y.; his mother-in-law, Rose Baptiste, Rome; a very special friend, Andy Convertino; and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Andrew and Helen Hudak, and his father-in-law, William Baptiste. The family would like to thank the staff of 2 North at Rome Memorial Hospital and doctors Potluri, Goel and Schicker for their care and kindness shown to Andy during his illness. Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:15 a.m. from the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 218 W. Court St., and at St. John the Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 4-8 p.m.