Stavisky: Sam Stavisky honored at Arlington

Photos by Alan Schiff

As funerals go it probably would rate 4 on a scale of 5. A bitter cold day at Arlington. There were the immediate family, one notable very close friend and three fairly recent  friends from his very favorite  Marine association.
Sam Stavisky made his way to heaven’s scenes October 27 in a plain pine coffin adorned only with the Star of David and with the traditional sprinkling of his mortal earth on his casket by his loved ones and the President of the Association, Fred Lash, the National Executive Director, Jack Paxton and Don Knight, Association VP.
He received a full Marine military funeral with honors, much appreciated by this family that knew of Sam’s three loves: family, Marine Corps and the CCs.
We mentioned one very close friend. Many old timers will remember the late Jerry O’Leary. We were introduced to very attractive elderly woman who just happened to be Jerry’s widow, Marea. As we had worked for her husband in Korea, this was a treat. Jerry and Sam were fast friends from World War II onward. Marea is as vivacious today as she was when she was ferrying troops to Korea as a stewardess on a major airline.
A cold day yet a warm day. Sam will be missed.

Semper Fidelis, Jack T. Paxton