Richard "Judge" Kochanski

Richard “Judge” Kochanski of Fort Myers, FL, passed away surrounded by his family on January 16, 2021. Born to Walter and Stella (Pacewicz) Kochanski in Elizabeth, NJ on October 30, 1935. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janice (Pekar) Kochanski, his son, James Kochanski, and his wife Susan, his daughter Lorin Holmes, and four grandchildren: Nicholas Kochanski, Alexis Kochanski, Olivia Holmes, and Stella Holmes.

Growing up in Elizabeth, NJ, Richard was an altar boy at St. Michael’s Church, an active member of the church’s CYO and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1953. Richard graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in 1957. He was active in the Accounting Society, Crew Team, Scarlet Key, and was President of the Brotherhood Council. He was active in the BU Alumni Association after his graduation. Richard graduated from Rutgers School of Law with a J.D. in 1960 and was active in the Student Bar Association, Indigent Defender Program, and International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi.

In 1961, Richard was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar. He was the Assistant City Attorney of Linden, NJ from 1965 to 1975, then Municipal Judge from 1976 to 1993 and known fondly as, “No Chance Kochanski”. As a judge, he presided over hundreds of marriages and believed they strengthened his own marriage. Every time he presided over a marriage, he felt he was saying his own vows again. Richard was a sole practitioner of law until 1997, and started a partnership with Robert Mega. He later became Council to Kochanski, Baran, and Galfy, PC.

Richard was a member of the NJ National Guard, Charter President of Linden Jaycees, and active in political, legal, and religious organizations. He served on Boy Scout Troop 149 Parents Committee in Linden, NJ for many years and also held a number of volunteer District and Council positions. A proud member of the Polish-American Club in Linden NJ, Richard served as the 15th Grand Marshal of the Pulaski Day Parade in 1995.

Richard retired in 2001, moved to Cape Coral, FL, and spent his summers in Burlington, VT with his daughter Lorin and grandchildren. Richard was Founding Member, Charter Vice President and then President of Mended Hearts, Chapter 312 where visited heart patients in the hospital and helped soothe their spirits. Richard continued his love of Christ as an active parishioner at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Cape Coral, usher and treasurer for 8 years of the Knights of Columbus, Council 7131, and member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

When not working or volunteering, you would find Richard on the water. Richard loved fishing and boating and would often set out from Barnegat Bay, NJ, or the Caloosahatchee River, FL in the wee hours of the morning to find the catch of the day. On vacations, Richard traveled the world with his wife in his preferred mode of transportation, a cruise ship. When he was not cruising the world, he could devour a mystery novel in a day. Most recently, his love for books led him to volunteer to catalog books at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Cape Coral. His love for food stretched far and wide, and every meal made by his wife, Janice, was followed up by a, “Very good Hun. Very good.”

In lieu of flowers, Richard asked for donations to be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Andrew Conference; 2628 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33904. A memorial mass for Richard will be held at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Cape Coral, FL at 11AM on Friday, January 22, 2021.