Peter Kotasek (96) of Endicott, NY passed away surrounded by those he loved on June 2 , 2022 at Lourdes Hospital.
Peter was born in Ratiskovice, Czechoslovakia in 1925 and arrived in America in 1928 aboard the SS Hamburg with his mother, Katarina, older brother John and older sister Sophie. He was processed thru Ellis Island where he is now listed on the Ellis Island American Immigrant Wall of Honor. (Panel 727)
He was predeceased by his loving wife of 67 years, Anna Sochor Kotasek. He is survived by his sons, Richard (Marie) Kotasek and P. Michael Kotasek; grandchildren, Misty (Sam) Reichman, Shawn (Jeannette) Fritz and Amber (Ryan) Crawford; great grandchildren, Damien Fritz, Jade Reichman, William Peter Crawford, Melanie Fritz and Jamie Fritz. Also by his sisters, Fran Vlasak and Marie (Roy) Nersesian, and brothers Karl Kotasek and Tom Kotasek; and sisters-in-law, Aggie Shattuck Dekar and Marge (Bob) Horbey, and numerous nieces and nephews who affectionately called him Uncle Pete. He was the greatest Dad and Uncle any of us could ever have asked for.
He toured the world during his career as a Travel Agent and part owner of Sochor Travel Service, a family-owned business founded by his father-in-law John Sochor, in Endicott, NY. Between organizing group, individual and family excursions, his own adventures included a trip around the world. He saw the pyramids in Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India, Tokyo, Japan, even Moscow under the USSR. He visited numerous European countries (making multiple trips to his relatives in what was then communist controlled Czechoslovakia), as well as countries in North Africa, Central America (including cruising the Panama Canal and the Caribbean), and even Machu Picchu in Peru, South America. Many years ago, he sailed on the last cruise ship to visit Havana, Cuba during Fidel Castro’s revolution.
He was a long-standing member of the Czechoslovak Moravian Club, a former member of the Endicott Kiwanis Club, a long-standing member of Saint Joseph’s Church in Endicott, NY, and years ago, a former mechanic at Newing Equipment in Endicott, NY. He even dabbled in stock car racing in his younger years.
A Funeral Mass for Peter will be held on Saturday, June 11 at 10 am at St. Joseph’s Church, 207 Hayes Avenue, Endicott. The family will receive friends on Saturday at church from 9 am until Mass time at 10 am. Burial will be held in Slovak Catholic Cemetery, Binghamton at the convenience for the family.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to the Broome West Senior Center, 2801 Wayne Street, Endwell, NY 13760, from where many a meal was enjoyed by him.