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In Memoriam Retired Members |
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DWIGHT WATSON
AGE: 48
DWIGHT WATSON-PANJ FIRST VICE PRESIDENT 1947-1995
By his friend PANJ President George Christie
We rarely speak about Dwight Watson but he is a man who I will never forget and no one in PANJ should ever forget him
either. Dwight was a minister who visited the state prison each week to speak with the inmates and give them some
spiritual hope. I joined him at the prison to listen to his sermon and was moved by his passion and love for these men.
At his funeral I heard from some of the former inmates who were blessed by Dwight's talks and who paid their last respects
with an outpouring of love and respect.
Dwight Watson was a probation officer who loved his work. He was dedicated to the judiciary and always strove to be the
best that he could be.
Dwight Watson was a dedicated father. He and his son Dwight Jr. joined my son Sean and I on a fishing trip out of Belmar
some years ago. It was a big deal for me to go on such a trip because I get sea sick easily, but Dwight talked me into it.
I not only did not get sick, but we all especially our boys had a great time. I promised to have this each year just
between us guys, but Dwight left us long before his time. I never got to see young Dwight again.
Dwight Watson was a great union leader. As my First VP he was fearless but respectful. He was extremely intelligent and
management knew it. When the AOC was trying to ram the state takeover through the Senate it was Dwight who single handedly
stopped the proceedings and caused the Senate to call for a unification committee to formulate a letter of agreement.
Dwight Watson's actions with the Senate Judiciary Committee was criticized by a high ranking AOC Director and the end
result was that Director was taken off the unification committee. The Unification Committee met for several Months and came
up with the Letter of Agreement which we refer to today. Every judiciary unionized worker owes a great deal to Dwight Watson.
To sum up the life of Dwight Watson I would have to say he left his mark in many places and many people benefited for
knowing him. I am proud to have called him my friend.
Stanley E. Grabowski
AGE: 91
Stanley E. "Willie Prop" Grabowski left this life on Dec. 18, 2009, after a brief illness. Visiting will be Monday from 4
to 8 p.m. at the Wilfred Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. Mass will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. in
Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Interment will be in Arlington Cemetery. Mr. Grabowski was born on Dec. 4, 1918, in Harrison,
N.J.., the son of Feliks and Helen. He was given the name Willie Prop due to his being a very young entrepreneur. At age 13,
he established a confectionary store as a growing business. He was very successful with his store and kept it until the
country's entry into World War II, when he sold it. He attended Harrison schools and then graduated from Newark Rutgers
College with a bachelor of arts degree in social services and psychology. While attending Rutgers, he played soccer for a
sports club and was president of the Glove and Stick Fraternity. He then entered an M.A. program in psychology at Columbia
University, but left for a year for business purposes. Upon the United States' entry into World War II, Mr. Grabowski
entered into military service in the Army. Upon completion of basic training, he was sent to a prestigious Army school at
Washington Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., for training in classification and assignment. He then served in the
Southwest Pacific in New Guinea and the Philippines. At the end of the war, he was discharged as a staff sergeant. Under
the GI Bill of Rights, he pursued graduate studies at Teachers College at Columbia University and earned 85 credits. In
1946, he became the director of veterans' services for the Town of Harrison, a title he retained until his death. Mr.
Grabowski was an activist in politics, yet had no desire for public office for himself. He instead chose to promote
candidates for office such as Mayor Frank Rodgers and Congressman Peter Rodino. In 1947, he became the registrar of vital
statistics for the Town of Harrison, remaining in that position until 2007. On January 1 of 1954, he became a Hudson County
Probation Officer, and retired in August 2007 as a principal probation officer. He was a member of the NJ Probation
Association, the State Registrars Association, PNA Lodge 2676, and the VFW Sawellson Post in Harrison. Throughout his life,
he played the violin and entertained at social functions. He was an avid cat lover and always gave a helping hand to people
in need. Stanley was the beloved father of Deborah Ellis, Stanley Grabowski, Jr., (Butch) and his wife, Columbia (Cookie);
cherished grandfather of Adam E. Ellis, surogate grandfather to Corporal Richard Figueroa, USMC; and former husband of the
late Eleanora Grabowski (Horvath). He is also survived by many loving cousins and friends. He will be greatly missed by all.
VINCENT D. WALKER
AGE: 52 PLEASANTVILLE
Senior Probation Officer Vincent Walker passed away untimely on July 22, 2009. He was a Officer in the Atlantic Vicinage and
was also past PANJ President of the Atlantic City Local for many years prior to his recent medical retirement. He was a member
of the PANJ labor contract negotiations Executive team in past. He was a friend to his co-workers and colleagues and to many
of us who knew him as a member of the State-wide PANJ Executive Board. At his formal retirement ceremonial on Nov 18,2008 many
of his colleagues and fellow PANJ members paid tribute to him as well. He will be remembered by many of us a good friend and
who was very proud to be called a Probation Officer. PANJ expresses it deep regrets and sympathies to his mother Joan and
Family.
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