Gregory John Sutchko

He was born on May 16, 1940, to Jenny (Piershalski) and George Sutchko in the small town of Nanticoke PA.

He graduated class of 1958 from Nanticoke High School (GO TROJANS!!) and joined the Navy shortly after.

A “Tin Can Sailor”, he served on the USS Fiske during his time and was discharged honorably in 1963.

Majoring in engineering and chemistry, he gained credits from Temple, Penn State and Bloomsburg, and soon found work at U.S. Steel and eventually Rohm and Haas in Bristol PA where he headed his department and spent his working days developing new ways to improve products, we all now take for granted.

He was an avid bowler, winning several major tournaments in his hometown and in the local area. When he wasn’t bowling, he could often be found hip deep in the waters of various Pocono streams fishing for trout or teaching his grandkids how to bait a hook. He loved the outdoors, would frequently go camping with his kids or grandkids, or take trips upstate, where he would relax or go hunting with his friends and family. He was a life member of the Guardians of the National Cemetery, Washington Crossing National Cemetery.

Later in life his newfound love was cruising, as long as it was with his first mate Janice. They traveled to many places together including St. Thomas, Tortuga, St. Martin, and Aruba, just to name a few, even inviting his kids on a few excursions.

When he wasn’t sailing the high seas, he was in his garden, and in typical Gregory fashion it was in grand scale. He didn’t have a garden in his yard. His yard WAS the garden! He grew everything from strawberries, to corn, to tomatoes and even had fruit trees on his property. He planted flowers specifically so he could pick one for his wife every morning.

He loved life and spent every day of it to the fullest. He shared his passions with everyone. Giving waitresses from his favorite diner bags of veggies from his garden, showing his grandsons how to cast a fly-fishing rod, or even teaching his granddaughter how to plant a rose bush.

He will be missed by those who knew him but will be greatly missed by his family, who knew him best.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janice, two children, Dawn Reichard (husband Clyde) and Gregg Sutchko (wife Christine), seven grandchildren, Ryan (wife Heather), Dylan, Evan, Nathaniel, Jacob, Morgan, and Griffin, and three great-grandchildren, Tyler, Ronan, and Logan.

A public visitation for Gregory will be held Monday, October 16, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, 2200 Trenton Road, Levittown, Pennsylvania 19056.

A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 9:30 AM at St. Frances Cabrini, 325 S. Oxford Valley Road, Fairless Hills, PA 19030. Burial with full military honors will follow at 11:30 AM at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Rd, Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940. Please be in line by 11:15 AM at the main office.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gregory's memory to the Guardians of the National Cemetery, PO Box 233, Newtown, PA 18940-0233.