Robert "Bear" Kominkiewicz
July 3, 1941 — February 18, 2024
Robert “Bear” Kominkiewicz, 82 of Sayreville, NJ died peacefully surrounded by family members at Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, NJ.
Born in Perth Amboy, the Bear grew up in South Amboy and eventually moved to Sayreville in 1966, where he remained a resident for the rest of his life. A family man and devoted husband, he lived for vacations and cruises near and far with his late wife Dolores, his kids, and grandchildren. He also enjoyed camping and attending sporting events. Bear was perhaps best known as the owner of Bear’s Hot Dogs in Sayreville, which he operated for 48 years from 1971 through 2019. There, the Bear had many regular customers with whom he enjoyed numerous conversations and jokes over the decades. In retirement, Bear’s family and friends would often hear stories from customers who loved his company and missed his smile, laughter, and sense of humor. Bear was also the life of many parties and get-togethers where he always made friends and family laugh with his stories and expert Simon Says calling. He was also a Brooklyn Dodgers fan during his youth.
Bear graduated from Hoffman High School in South Amboy in 1959 where he was a member of the bowling team and senior follies. Shortly after graduation, Bear began working for Hercules Powder in Parlin, and later was a truck driver for New Deal Delivery Service in Keasbey. In 1971, he started his hot dog business on Bordentown Ave. in the Borough of Sayreville. He later sold the business in 2019, which still operates at the same location. For the first 20 years of Bear’s Hot Dogs, he worked his business while still driving for New Deal Delivery Service to provide for his family. He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in South Amboy and later at St. Bernadette’s Roman Catholic Church in Old Bridge
He is predeceased by his parents Francis and Helen (Tanaway) Kominkiewicz, his dear son Rob, and his beloved wife of 54 years Dolores (Wojciechowski) Kominkiewicz. He is survived by his daughter Kim and her long-term caregiver Elizabeth Panford of Sayreville; son Scott Sr. and his wife Teresa of South Amboy; his four grandchildren Scott Jr. and his wife Ayako and great grandson Shohei of Hawaii; Corinne NIeves and her husband Javier and great grandson Felix of South Amboy; Constance Hoots and her husband Brad and great grandson Bradley in South Carolina, and dear grandson John of Philadelphia. Also surviving are his sister-in-law Charlotte Mico and her husband Edward of Jackson; sister-in-law Marilyn Wojciechowski of Florida; brother Ronald Kominkiewicz and his wife MaryJane of Jobstown, NJ; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends spread throughout the world. He will be greatly missed by many.
Friends are invited to pay their respects to the family from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024 at The Kurzawa Funeral Home 338 Main Street, South Amboy, NJ 08879. A 10am funeral will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, South Amboy, NJ. He will be laid to rest beside his wife at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Parlin, NJ
Born in Perth Amboy, the Bear grew up in South Amboy and eventually moved to Sayreville in 1966, where he remained a resident for the rest of his life. A family man and devoted husband, he lived for vacations and cruises near and far with his late wife Dolores, his kids, and grandchildren. He also enjoyed camping and attending sporting events. Bear was perhaps best known as the owner of Bear’s Hot Dogs in Sayreville, which he operated for 48 years from 1971 through 2019. There, the Bear had many regular customers with whom he enjoyed numerous conversations and jokes over the decades. In retirement, Bear’s family and friends would often hear stories from customers who loved his company and missed his smile, laughter, and sense of humor. Bear was also the life of many parties and get-togethers where he always made friends and family laugh with his stories and expert Simon Says calling. He was also a Brooklyn Dodgers fan during his youth.
Bear graduated from Hoffman High School in South Amboy in 1959 where he was a member of the bowling team and senior follies. Shortly after graduation, Bear began working for Hercules Powder in Parlin, and later was a truck driver for New Deal Delivery Service in Keasbey. In 1971, he started his hot dog business on Bordentown Ave. in the Borough of Sayreville. He later sold the business in 2019, which still operates at the same location. For the first 20 years of Bear’s Hot Dogs, he worked his business while still driving for New Deal Delivery Service to provide for his family. He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in South Amboy and later at St. Bernadette’s Roman Catholic Church in Old Bridge
He is predeceased by his parents Francis and Helen (Tanaway) Kominkiewicz, his dear son Rob, and his beloved wife of 54 years Dolores (Wojciechowski) Kominkiewicz. He is survived by his daughter Kim and her long-term caregiver Elizabeth Panford of Sayreville; son Scott Sr. and his wife Teresa of South Amboy; his four grandchildren Scott Jr. and his wife Ayako and great grandson Shohei of Hawaii; Corinne NIeves and her husband Javier and great grandson Felix of South Amboy; Constance Hoots and her husband Brad and great grandson Bradley in South Carolina, and dear grandson John of Philadelphia. Also surviving are his sister-in-law Charlotte Mico and her husband Edward of Jackson; sister-in-law Marilyn Wojciechowski of Florida; brother Ronald Kominkiewicz and his wife MaryJane of Jobstown, NJ; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends spread throughout the world. He will be greatly missed by many.
Friends are invited to pay their respects to the family from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024 at The Kurzawa Funeral Home 338 Main Street, South Amboy, NJ 08879. A 10am funeral will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, South Amboy, NJ. He will be laid to rest beside his wife at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Parlin, NJ
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