Obituary of Theodore Hadyka

Theodore (Ted) Robert Hadyka, resident of Hopatcong, died at the age of 71 on Saturday September 18 at Hackettstown Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family. Ted was born on December 28, 1938 in Elizabeth. He grew up in Bayonne where he met his wife Patricia and they were married on February 6, 1960 in St. Mary's Church in Bayonne. He worked for Westinghouse and Foster Wheeler until 1996. Ted served in the US Army from 1958-1961. He was a big part of the Bayonne PAL and the Bayonne Little League. When he moved to Hopatcong in 1974, he continued to do what he loved; volunteering to work with kids. He was one of the founders of the Hopatcong Little League and started the girl's softball program in Hopatcong. He served on the Little League Board and played a large role in creating the Little League Carnival and raising funds for the construction of the Little League fields in Hopatcong. He served as Hopatcong Little League President for four years. Ted also served on the Hopatcong Recreation Commission. He was a longtime coach of St. Jude's CYO basketball and served as their Athletic Director. He loved to give his time freely to the youth of Hopatcong. He attended all his children's athletic events and was both a coach and a mentor. Ted is survived by his wife Patricia (Cmielewski) of Hopatcong, his loving children, Ted of Hopatcong, Susan Bruggemann and her husband Michael of Hopatcong, Jonathan of Montclair, Richard of Hopatcong and Adam of Budd Lake, his beautiful grandchildren, Teddy, Cole and Kaylee all of Hopatcong and His brothers Stanley and his wife Mary Ellen of Brick, Rev. Richard of Long Port and Joe and his wife Gabby of Corpus Christie, TX. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews as well as many players and friends he has had through the years.