Submitted by his son

George Petrosky‚ 78‚ was a lifetime member of Midway Hose No. 2 Fire Company‚ Matawan‚ NJ. He sustained a head injury when he collapsed while directing traffic at an accident scene on September 30. After 40 days in a coma‚ he passed away on November 9‚ 2003.

George held positions in the fire department as an Engineer‚ Lieutenant‚ and Captain‚ prior to serving as Chief from 1961 to 1964. He served in the U.S. Army in 14th Armored Field Artillery Regiment with 2nd Armored Division from 1943 to 1945 with stops in England‚ France‚ Holland‚ Belgium‚ and Germany. He was awarded the Order of the Purple Heart in 1945 for injuries sustained while clearing buildings of enemy troops. He also received the Good Conduct and European‚ African‚ and Middle Eastern service medals.

He retired from the Woodbridge State School maintenance department where he worked from 1966 to 1981. He previously worked at Marlboro State Hospital from 1946 to 1966.

George was a member of the First Baptist Church of Matawan for 35 years and served as church Financial Secretary for several years.

George was blessed with a green thumb‚ and his family‚ friends‚ and neighbors enjoyed the vegetables from his garden each summer. His other hobbies were fishing and hunting. He was quiet and kind and modeled the values of honesty‚ fidelity‚ responsibility‚ caring‚ fairness‚ and respect which made him a wonderful husband‚ partner‚ father‚ grandfather‚ father-in-law‚ and friend.

Married to Jean for 50 years before her death; father of David‚ William‚ and Sandra; grandfather of Erika‚ Monica‚ Tara‚ and Kristen‚ father-in-law of Tim and Joyce.