Companions Of the Cross

Southern Central New Jersey Chapter of Markland Medieval Re-enactment

Chester D. Karasinski

11/10/47 – 3/13/08

     Chester David Karasinski, of Hainesport, NJ, passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2008.  A long time resident of Burlington County, Mr. Karasinski was born in Brooklyn on November 10, 1947, and lived in Queens until his family re-located to Marlton in 1964, graduating from Lenape High School in 1965. He was a career Burlington County Sheriff’s Officer for more than 25 years, serving with the Camden County Narcotics Strike Force, as Court Security for numerous Judges, in civil process, and other assignments, retiring in 1998, returning to full duty following a heart transplant in 1995.  A long-time officer and member of  P.B.A. Local # 248 and their delegate to the New Jersey State P.B.A. for many years, he was also a combat veteran of the U.S. Navy,  serving on the USS Benjamin Stoddert, DDG 22, on combat patrol off Viet Nam during 1970 - 1971. After discharge from active duty, he remained in the Naval Reserve for over 27 years, in multiple ratings, including aviation and intelligence, as both crew and instructor, including briefings at the U.S. Naval War College during the Bosnia Herzegovina campaign, and reached full retirement in 2007 as a Petty Officer 1^st Class. His numerous ribbons and awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal. After separation from active reserve duty with the Navy in 1997, he continued in volunteer service in the New Jersey Naval Militia, including command center participation in the Militia’s rescue efforts off Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001.  A life-long student and instructor, Mr. Karasinski studied and taught the martial arts, including aikido, firearms and fencing, held Associates Degrees from Delaware Valley Institute of Technology and Burlington County College, as well as a Bachelor of  Science in Criminal Justice from Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey).  An avid sportsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating, and was active in numerous community, national and fraternal organizations, including the Loyal Order of the Moose, Lodge # 737, National Sheriff’s Association, Viet Nam Veterans Association, Tin Can Sailors, Fleet Reserve Association, NRA and the American Legion, among others, he  was also very active in the historical re-enactment movement for many years, including in the Society for Creative Anachronism, Medieval Scenario Re-enactors, Clan MacLeod, the Markland Medieval Mercenary Militia, in which he founded the Companions of the Cross chapter with the persona of “King Cheslov”, recruiting numerous new members and sponsoring new chapters, as a friend to the Adrian Empire, participating in hundreds of demonstrations and events.

     He is survived by his parents, Chester S. and Rose Karasinski, of Marlton, his Uncle Michael Greggo (Natalie), and family, his in-laws, Dr. Willard E. and Joan F. Gandy, of Cherry Hill, and will be long remembered and sadly missed by Joan, his wife of more than thirty-three years, his son, Chester, Jr., his sister, Deborah Ginn,  (Mark ), brother-in-law, Willard E. Gandy, Jr., Esq., sister-in-law, Melissa Cathcart (Francis J., Jr.), his nephew, Francis J. Cathcart, III, (Jennifer) currently on active duty in the US Navy, nieces, Jessica A. Fisher (Corey), Angela L. Cathcart (Andrew Meyrick), Michelle Ginn and Sara Ginn, a grand-niece, Kaori L. Cathcart, his close friends, James “Jake” Jacoby, Fred and Terrie Moutal, Ronald MacAuley, Terri Molitar, Donald “Bubba” Black, Gary Bock, Don Donovan, Mike and Cindy Diaczynsky, Ed Salkind, Ron and Aprille Cole, David and Jennifer Most, GwynAllan Ward and Sylvia Pearce, Paul Leinbach, Paul Blazewick, Nina Gorley and family, George Drukarov, Yuanchun Ma, John Norton and family, Peter and Laura Edwardsen, Bryan Cook and family, Steven Panna, Dolly Paterson, Pat Harmon, Marybeth and Eric Colber, Charles Wallace, the Thrush family, Robert MacLeod,  Bill and Karen Reid, and his clients and friends in the legal community, including James Logan,  Jr., Esq., Gary L. Daniels, Esq., Susan R. Dargay, Esq., Alan H. Schorr, Esq., Allen Ferg, Esq., Thomas J. Shusted, Jr., Esq., Cynthia D. Sora, Esq., Carolyn Chang, Esq., James A. Ronca, Esq.,  and dozens of other acquaintances, friends, colleagues and fellow members, most especially of his Markland family in the Companions of the Cross, who came to know him over the years as a big man with a big heart and a great sense of humor.  

            Friends, colleagues and family are invited to pay their respects, viewing at the Lee Funeral Home, 317 High Street, Mount Holly, on Monday evening, March 24, 2008 , 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., Mass of Christian Burial, Tuesday, MAarch 25, 2008 @ 11:00 a.m., Sacred Heart Church, Mount Holly, internment at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Hainesport.  In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The American Heart Association or Second Chance on behalf of Chester

Directions:

Joan Karasinski can be contacted by email at 1metoo@comcast.net.

This page edited on: : 03/17/08

Wow, we've had visitors to our site!

Any Question or Requests E-mail the Webmaster at:

Webmaster@companionsofthecross.com

This site hosted by Cook's Computers, Inc.