Obituary of Henry Oswald, Jr.

Henry Oswald, known to many as Hank, passed away on July 15, 2016 at his Mendham, NJ home of 51 years with family members by his side. He was the son of Henry Oswald Sr. and Lillian M. Ott Oswald. He was born Feb. 3, 1931 at Bethany Deaconess Hospital, Kings Co. NY. He was predeceased by his brother Robert G. Oswald in 1996. He was raised in Brooklyn, 27 Ridgewood Queens, NY. He attended St. Matthias RC Elementary School and received a scholarship to attend Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. During high school years he was on the track team participating in the mile run, 220, 440, 880 relays. Hank graduated Manhattan College in 1953. He served his country during the Korean Conflict in the US Army, stationed in Frankford Arsenal in PA and in the Army Reserves. His first job was with General Electric in Lynn, MA. He was hired by Bell Labs in Whippany, NJ as a member of their Technical Staff as an Electrical Engineer. Hank was credited with several patents while he was employed at Bell Labs. Monthly, he met with his colleagues at the Redwoods in Chester all donned in their two pocket shirts filled with pen/paper. After he retired from the Labs he helped his wife in their home with her childcare business specializing as the official child book reader. He met his future wife at the Labs, Marguerite (Peggy) Lake of Morristown, NJ and they were married in December of 1963 at the Assumption Church, Morristown, NJ. They lived in East Hanover, NJ for about 1 ½ years then moved in Mendham in 1965. They were blessed with 5 children: Paula Jean of Mendham; Henry III of El Segundo, CA and his wife Sanae Kato and their children Henry IV and Minoru Vincent; David Vincent of Mendham; Laurie Ann of Mendham; Matthew Thomas and his wife Whitney Ayers of Waxhaw, NC and their children Kaleigh, Madison, Lindsay. He participated in many of his children's events over the years. He was a life member of the Mendham Twp. First Aid Squad for over 20 yrs. holding positions as Treasurer and CPR Instructor. Hank was a parishioner of St. Joseph's RC Church in Mendham where he was an usher for 25 yrs. He maintained tropical fish tanks and an outdoor Koi pond. He was an avid reader, always finished a crossword puzzle, completed over 56,456 sequential Free Cell computer games, and enjoyed his television especially "Games of Thrones" and the Sci-Fi channel. Hank maintained a large collection of Natural History books. He and his family were frequent patrons at Mini Mac in Chester along with other regulars. He kept close in his heart a special angel named Alexandra. Hank was a quiet, gentle man who loved his wife, children and grandchildren. His spirit will live forever in our hearts. Special thanks to the Staff at Mendham Medical, Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills and the Renal Ventures in Succasunna, Mendham Township First Aid Squad and the Mendham First Aid Squad. As per Hank's request there will be a Memorial Visitation on Saturday, July 23rd at Mendham Firehouse, 24 East Main Street, with the family, beginning at 10:30 am with a reflection service at 11:00 am and continued Fellowship till 2 pm. Attire may be casual. Please consider donations in his name to the Father English Community Center, 435 Main St. Paterson, NJ 07501, Attention First Step Scholarship (a fund for childcare for working parents) or Mendham Twp. FAS P.O. Box 122, Brookside NJ 07926 or Mendham FAS P.O. Box 131, Mendham NJ 07945. www.baileyfuneral.com