Obituary of Chester Czaplinski, Jr.
South Plainfield, NJ – Chester “Chet” Czaplinski, Jr., 75, passed away suddenly on Monday, September 2, 2024.
Born in Newark, NJ, Chet was raised in Union where he was a graduate of Union High School, class of 1967. Known as Chet the Jet in high school, he was active within the Union High sports programs. He played both baseball and football, and in 2015, he was inducted into the Union High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Two years after his High School graduation, Chet went on to serve in the United States Army, during the Vietnam War. During his service, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where he worked in communications. Chet was honorably discharged from the Army in 1971.
After his military service, Chet continued his education, attending the University of Tampa, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education, and was a part of the 1975 Graduating Class. It was here he met Joy Schenck, who he would later marry. In 1982, he graduated from Kean University, in his home town of Union, with a Master’s Degree in Principal and Supervision.
Not long after attaining his Undergraduate Degree, in 1976, Chet began working in the Union Township School District as a Health Education Teacher, which he would call home for the next 35 years of teaching and administrating. Chet proudly worked as a teacher, coach, and administrator, earning the title of Vice Principal of Burnet Middle School in 2000. Chet also enjoyed his time coaching both baseball and football, and coached the Union High Baseball team to a Union County Championship in 1993. Through his leadership as a coach he led the Fighting Farmers football team to 8 state championships.
In 2012, after 35 years, Chet decided it was time to retire. Unable to stay out of the school, Chet went back to work as school security within the Union School district from 2012 to 2020.
Not only did Chet value his time on the high school athletic fields, he cherished the days coaching his sons in Little League and Pop Warner Football. When he wasn’t coaching, Chet was also an avid college football fan, especially Rutgers Football. He loved his time around the field so much, he found a home at the South Plainfield High School football games, partaking in one of his favorite retirement activities, working the snack stand alongside his good, late, friend Mike Alvarez.
When not involved in sports, Chet enjoyed traveling, whether it be to Hawaii with his wife, or family vacations with his children and grandchildren, Adley and Marlee.
Predeceased by his parents, Antoinette (nee Caprio) and Chester S. Czaplinski, and brothers-in-law, Frank DeSanto and Robert Besser, Chet is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 47 years, Joy Ann (nee Schenck) Czaplinski; two sons, Daniel (Rhiannon) Czaplinski, and Christopher (Brittany) Czaplinski; and granddaughters, Adley and Marlee. He will also be missed by his sisters, Jacqueline (Robert) Baduini, Sandra (Edward) Oliver, Joanne DeSanto, and Connie Besser; in-laws, James C. Schenck, James D. (Cathy) Schenck, Jacqueline (William) Kramer, and Jerald (Karen) Schenck; many nieces and nephews; his beloved dog, Zoey, and a host of extended relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held at the McCriskin – Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 2 PM to 5 PM.
Funeral services will begin in the funeral home at 4:30 PM on Saturday, September 7, 2024.
Cremation services will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, the Czaplinski family has asked that donations be made to the American Heart Association, in Chet’s name.