Gary Nicholas Sivak, age 70, finished his race, entered into his eternal life in heaven, and for the first time saw the precious face of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 24, 2021, and God said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”
Gary was born in Elizabeth, NJ, on December 18, 1950. In 1968, after graduating as the class valedictorian from Carteret High School in Carteret, NJ, he attended Princeton University and graduated in the top of his class with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics.
In 1974, while on a trip to Israel, he met the love of his life, Susan Lorraine Kanost. They were married on June 26, 1976, and after celebrating 45 years of marriage, she was still his “Sweetheart.”
Blind since birth, Gary never let his blindness hinder him from accomplishing great things. An extremely intelligent person, he worked for the Frankfort Arsenal Army Post in Philadelphia, PA, where he was a physicist, specializing in optical components and equipment for army tanks. After moving to the Dayton area in 1980, he was employed at Wright Patterson Airforce Base, working in avionics simulation for SEAF AC, developing simulation models for the KC-135 aircraft “Hot Bench.” During that time, he received several awards, including the Certificate of Achievement award in recognition for his selection as U.S. Army Armament Command Handicapped Employee of the Year. Gary retired from Wright Patterson Airforce Base in 2011 and was enjoying his retirement years, traveling and visiting his grandchildren.
Gary was preceded in death by his father, Nicholas Sivak, and his mother, Regina Mary Sivak (nee Adams) of Carteret, NJ. He is survived by his loving wife, Susan Lorraine Sivak (nee Kanost), son Wesley Nicholas Sivak and wife Erica Sivak (nee Schmitt) of Columbus, OH, son Justin Philip Sivak of Centerville, OH, sister Leslie Sivak, sister Nancy Moskwa, sister Cindy Sivak, grandchildren, Henry, Nathan and Audrey, of Columbus, OH, and many nieces and nephews that loved him.
As a young man, Gary put his trust in Jesus Christ alone as his Lord and Savior. He knew that asking for forgiveness from his sin, based on Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, provided him the one way to spend eternity in heaven with God. He wanted everyone to know that anyone who believes this truth and receives forgiveness can share the same assurance that he had. As a longtime member of Washington Heights Baptist Church, he would encourage anyone with questions regarding this assurance to contact the church at 5650 Far Hills Avenue, Dayton, OH 45429, at (937) 434-4676, or at https://whbc.org.
Please join his family and friends as we remember what he meant to us and celebrate his new life with Christ. “The memory of the righteous is a blessing.” Proverbs 10:7a ESV. Visitation will be Friday, October 1, 2021, from 2:00pm to 3:00pm, with a memorial service immediately following, at Washington Heights Baptist Church, located at 5650 Far Hills Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45429, with Pastor David Kisner officiating. Burial will be at Mount Zion Park Cemetery in Beavercreek, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Gary's memory to Hospice of Dayton. www.hospiceofdayton.org
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