Gus Colendenski

August J. Colendenski (Gus) died on May 12, 2016 at RWJ University Hospital in Somerset surrounded by his loving family. Visiting will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2016 from 4 to 8PM at the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield. www.higginsandbonner.com A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 16, 2015 at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church in Mountainside at 10:00AM. Born on October 18, 1936 in Jersey City, he moved to Cranford in 1963 and lived most recently in Somerset. Gus had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement. First as a police officer and then as Detective First Grade with the Port Authority of NY/NJ Police Dept. He then went on to become an investigator with the Union County Prosecutors Office where he rose to the rank of Detective Captain and head of the Organized Crime Division. In both capacities he received numerous medals and commendations while working with many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. In addition, he was a standout athlete in high school and had a short stint in the NY Yankees farm system. Gus enjoyed spending summer vacations in Lake George and, after retirement, winters in Florida. He enjoyed playing golf with his family and friends and especially cherished time spent with his "11 grands". Gus is survived by his wife of 55 years, Bernice (Kennedy), his daughter Donna Corley and her husband Tom, his son John and his wife Bridget and her daughter Krisann and her husband Simon Bintley as well as his grandchildren Meaghan, Sarah, Kelly, Robert and Caroline Corley, John, Julia, Bridget, and Caitlin Colendenski and Emily and Rebecca Bintley. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Gus’s memory to the charity of your choice if desired.

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