SAYREVILLE – The Sayreville School District and community mourns the loss of a lifelong Sayreville resident who was a former teacher and member of the Board of Education.
At the beginning of the Board of Education meeting on Nov. 20, board President Kevin Ciak paid tribute to borough resident Raymond Nakielny, who died on Nov. 8.
According to his obituary issued by Maliszewski Memorial Home in Sayreville, Nakielny, 72, was born in New Brunswick and resided in Sayreville all of his life. After graduating from Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City with a bachelor’s degree in English, he worked as a teacher in the Sayreville School District. In his professional career, Nakielny was also a business agent and an iron worker with Local 373 International Brotherhood of Iron Workers in Perth Amboy for 45 years. Additionally, he owned Nakielny Tax Services in Sayreville.
As a volunteer, Nakielny was a longtime member of the Board of Education, along with the Sayreville Knights of Columbus Council 2061, according to his obituary.
“Last week, we lost a beloved member of our community,” Ciak said. “He was a former teacher in the Sayreville Public Schools. He was also a former board member of this very Board of Education. Ray Nakielny served the Sayreville Board of Education during the 1980s into the early 90s.
“He served this board with distinction and I know even current board members today who, before they decided to run, consulted with Ray Nakielny because of his leadership on the Sayreville board through difficult times and through challenging times and the manner in which he conducted himself here, his sense of humor, his pose and his dedication to the Sayreville Public Schools,” he continued.
After Ciak concluded his comments, a moment of silence was held in Nakielny’s memory.
