Thaddeus Joseph Puzio

Thaddeus Joseph Puzio of Wayne, PA, formerly of Sun City Center, FL and Goshen, NY passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 21, 2025 surrounded by family. He was 93.

Born November 11, 1931 in Passaic, NJ, Ted was the son of Polish immigrants, Joseph and Wladyslawa “Violet” Puzio. He was the beloved husband of Roslyn (Forman) Puzio with whom he shared 46 years of marriage. Known to many as “Ted,” he was affectionately called “Poppa Puz” or “Uncle Tadz” by family.

Ted graduated from East Rutherford High School in East Rutherford, NJ. As a youth, he was a newspaper carrier and a pin setter at the local bowling alley. His love of the beach started early with family trips to Coney Island, NY. Ted was the first in his family to attend college; he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business in 1953 with a degree in Economics. Ted was on the Fencing Team and was Social Chair for the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He worked through college as an usher at football games and a waiter in the Professors’ Dining Hall, resourceful ways to get free entry to the games and an extra meal. After graduating, Ted proudly served in the U.S. Army for two years. He worked for ABEX as an Industrial Engineer for 15 years with assignments across the U.S. and Canada.

In 1966 while working in Montreal, Ted was in a car accident that left him in a full body cast and hospital bed for one year. He spent his time in the hospital as only Ted could, with gratitude and optimism, singing songs, making friends, being charming, sneaking beer, and writing a poem as a tribute to the nurses who cared for him. After his release, his late sisters Sonya Sacks (Henry) and Anne Baran (Ted) continued to care for him. The outcome was that his right leg would not bend for the remainder of his life. It never slowed him down, and he never complained. Two years later, Ted met the love of his life, Roslyn (Roz), and her three daughters. They married in 1970 and instantly became a family of five. A new work assignment moved them to the U.S. where they built a home and expanded their family in Goshen, NY.

Ted and Roz spent 25 wonderful years in Goshen, NY raising their five daughters: Susan, Janet, Linda, and the twins—Natalie and Thaddea. While living in Goshen, Ted made a career change and worked as a Management Engineer for several hospitals in New York City over the span of 20 years. He was devoted to his faith, his family, and his community, and had a whole lot of fun along the way. The family went on annual vacations to the Jersey shore where he taught his girls how to body surf. Ted was proud of his Polish heritage. He loved a good Polka, all Polish food, and was even in a Polish singing group. He also taught his whole family to sing “Sto Lat” at birthdays. The rest was just living by example. Ted and Roz also enjoyed traveling the world, going to Africa, Alaska, Austria, China, Greece, Hawaii, and Japan. Ted finished his career working for the U.S. Government in the Contracts Dept.

In 1998, Ted and Roz retired to Sun City Center, FL. They enjoyed 18 years being active in the community. Ted started the Polish American Club, was an usher and lector at church, drove for Meals on Wheels and Sun City Center Community Patrol, and he was a dispatcher for the Community Ride Program. If you needed a volunteer, bartender, or cleanup crew for any event, he was your guy. All the while, they prioritized family by making annual trips up North to visit their daughters’ families, cheer grandkids at sporting events, and continue the tradition of Puzio family vacations to the Jersey Shore and the Poconos.

In 2016, after Roz’s passing, Ted moved to Wayne, PA to be closer to family, and he quickly put down roots. Ted was active in his new community. He was a lector at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, he volunteered at the local Special Olympics, the local elections, the Devon Horse Show’s hot dog stand, and the Knights of Columbus. The family vacations continued, and new traditions emerged, including trips to TN, and pierogi-making in MD.

Ted was generous, compassionate and encouraging. Whether it was donations to non-profits or the sly pass of cash in a handshake, he was always quick to give if he knew someone was in need. Often when he heard a story of someone else’s kindness, he would say, “I don’t know ’em, but I love ’em!” He found the good in everyone and everything. When he wasn’t cheering on his family or supporting his community, Ted’s favorite hobbies were reading the newspaper, following current events and sports, investing in the stock market, placing a small bet for fun, watching musicals and old movies, and saying his prayers throughout the day.

Ted was predeceased by his loving daughter Janet Yavener (Bernie). He is survived by four daughters: Susan Bossley (Rick), Linda Prinzi (Frank), Natalie Corcimiglia (Tom), Thaddea Dreyer; 12 grandchildren: Laura, Elizabeth, Alyssa (Bill), Jeremy, Isabel, Clay, Nathan, Sky, Sam, Ryan (Chelsea), Madison (fiancé Laith), Christopher; 7 great grandchildren: CJ, Bella, Emma, Clark, Juliana, Alison, Jack; and his brother-in-law Kenneth Forman (Joan).

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, www.scs.edu/campaign.

A Viewing will be held at 9:00am-10:30am on Friday, August 29 at Donovan Funeral Home, 82 S Church St, Goshen, NY. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00am at the Church of St John the Evangelist, 71 Murray Ave, Goshen, NY. Burial will follow at the Orange County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Craigville Road, Goshen, NY. A Memorial Service will be held in Wayne, PA, at a later date.