Herbert Melvin Stark

Age 81
Bridgewater

Herbert “Mel” Stark, 81, of Bridgewater, formerly of Plains, PA passed away Monday, June 24th in Raritan Health Nursing Home.

Born November 11, 1931 in Plains, PA, he was the son of the late Charles and Joanna Stark.

Mr. Stark was employed by the Bridgewater Raritan Board of Education for 38 years. During his tenure he served as the head guidance counselor and vice principal at Adamsville School.

Mel graduated froms Kings College, Wilkes-Barre, PA, then Seton Hall University, where he recieved his master’s degree. He was a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Somerville.

In 1992, Mel was honored by New Jersey’s A+ FOR KIDS Teacher Network for innovative and creative lesson plans, after he planned a week’s worth of activities to help his students learn about the Bill of Rights.

Mr. Stark was an avid baseball fan and amature coach. He organized and served as the manager for the Bridgewater American Legion Post 507 Baseball Team for 25 years. During his time as coach, he proudly witnessed many of his players receive college baseball scholarships.

Surviving are his loving wife Florence Sakowski Stark of Bridgewater; his daughter Donna Craig and son-in-law, Bruce Craig, of Los Gatos, CA; his son Christopher Stark and daughter-in-law Karen Stark, of Towson, MD; and five grandchildren; Ian Craig, Emma Craig, Samuel Stark, Thomas Stark and William Stark.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30am on Friday, June 28th, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Somerville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mel's memory to the Immaculate Conception Church Foundation, 35 Mountain Ave., Somerville, NJ 08876 or The Steeplechase Cancer Center, 30 Rehill Ave., Somerville, NJ 08876