Roxbury Township, Mr. Stephen R. Shulkowski, 86, died on July 21, 2024, at St. Clare’s Hospital in Dover, NJ. He was born in Jersey City, NJ as the only child to Steven and Anna Shulkowski, and raised in Bayonne, NJ. After graduating from St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he proudly served his country on the USS Newport News until 1959. Following his military service, in 1962 he met the love of his life, Mary Jean. They were married in 1963 and lived in Kearny, NJ, where they had three children. In 1976, Steve and his family moved to Roxbury, NJ, where, as a parishioner of St. Therese R C Church, he would live until he was called home to heaven.

Steve was a graduate of Rutgers University and spent his entire 40-year professional career working in Information Technology at AT&T in various locations across Northern New Jersey. Even though he enjoyed a successful career, Steve’s most important priority in life was his marriage and family. Steve and Mary Jean were blessed to share an unconditional love from the moment they met at the High Hat in Bayonne on Mary Jean’s 19^th birthday. They didn’t know it at the time, but they were about to embark on a special and unique 61-year love story, characterized by support, compassion, respect, and humor. They were an inseparable couple who modeled true loyalty and dedication to their children and others.

Steve had a passion for travel, and after seeing the world during his time in the Navy, he and Mary Jean enjoyed many travel adventures including wonderful trips to their favorite place, Aruba. Back home, he loved coaching and watching his kids play sports and could recall every detail of every game he ever saw. Steve also enjoyed spending time on his deck, sipping cosmos with Mary Jean, and hosting pool parties with his children, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Later in life, Steve became the proud grandfather to his 11 grandchildren and loved hosting them at the family house, often enjoying late night snacks and conversations around the kitchen table on Ridge Road. He had a special and unique connection with each of his children and grandchildren who all loved him so much. With a warm and authentic nature, Steve always had a smile on his face. He never hesitated to strike up a conversation with friends and strangers alike and brought joy and happiness to all around him.

Steve was a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he earned Third Degree Knight status. He was also a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and a volunteer at the Atlantic Federal Credit Union.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Mary Jean (Spiotto) Shulkowski, and by his children Stephanie (Carmen) Gambone, Stephen (Deborah) Shulkowski, and Amy (Joseph) Cusack, and grandchildren Valerie (Ryan), Stephanie (William), Dominic (Karley), Natalie, Max, Aurelie, Quinn, James, Victoria, Abby Lena, and Jackson.

Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com) on Thursday, July 25^th, 2024, from 4 – 7 pm. The Funeral Liturgy will be held at St. Therese R C Church in Succasunna on Friday, July 26, 2024, at 10 am, followed by Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/).