Obituary for Henry Antony "Hank" Popek
Henry Antony “Hank” Popek, 87, of the Manor at Yorktown, Jamison, PA, died December 5, 2020, of complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
Hank was born in Philadelphia to Harold and Mary (Hamski) Popek, grew up in the Great Northeast, and graduated from North Catholic High School. He was a member of a couple of league championship football teams before lettering for three years in college football at Bucknell University, where he graduated in 1955 with a degree in Commerce and Finance. While at Bucknell, he joined the Theta Chi fraternity.
After college, he joined the Marine Corps, and married Dolores Popiel at St. Adalbert R.C. Church in Philadelphia in April of 1956. Their first son was born at Camp Lejeune. After his discharge from the service Henry and Dolores had another son, and in the early 60’s settled in the Millbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia. Hank started work as an insurance agent for Allstate Insurance, first at the Sears building on Roosevelt Boulevard, and later opened his own agency with his long-time business partner William Pollack, which eventually moved to Feasterville, PA.
We fondly remember many scenes from Hank and Dolores’ lives; their house in Southampton where they lived from 1972 to 1998, and then other homes as they moved to different retirement communities in Central and Upper Bucks County. We remember his Lincoln Town Cars; the last one met its ignominious end during Cash for Clunkers. He was a fan of the Eagles and the Phillies. He was also a big fan of the beach, and spent many happy summer days at his sister-in-law’s places in Ventnor and Margate, and later took his sons’ families to beach house rentals in Ocean City, NJ. He loved sitting out on the beach and getting incredibly tan. He loved taking the grandkids into the water and strolling the boardwalk and playing mini-golf. He and Dolores traveled extensively around the world, seeing Europe and Asia. As they approached their 50th wedding anniversary, in 2005 they treated their sons and their families to a grand Disney cruise vacation to the Bahamas.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dolores, and their two sons, John (Barbara), and Stephen (Marlane), and four grandchildren, Matthew, Sarah, Jillian, and Leah. He was preceded in death by his sister Barbara Rogozinski who died last year, and who is survived by her husband Frank, and son Michael (April). Hank is survived also by many nieces and nephews on his wife’s side.
Interment will be at Washington Crossing National Cemetery at the convenience of the family. A memorial service will be held at a later date when it is safe to do so. Final arrangements made by Shelly Funeral Home,
Contributions in Hank’s memory may be directed to the charity of your choice. Hank’s family would like to thank the staff at Bristol House Memory Care for their kindness and care for Hank under the extraordinary circumstances of this year, and to thank the Southeastern Health Care at Home Hospice team. You were there when we weren’t allowed to be.
We will remember Hank for his geniality and compassion. We’ll remember him for his chuckle and smile. And we’ll remember him for the times we were able to share as a family. Even if his condition was not directly caused by COVID, we can’t help but think about the final moments we missed out on due to isolation and separation protocols, and we know that we are joining many, many other families across the world mourning the loss of a loved one this godforsaken year.
Thank you for everything, Dad. We will always love you.
Hank was born in Philadelphia to Harold and Mary (Hamski) Popek, grew up in the Great Northeast, and graduated from North Catholic High School. He was a member of a couple of league championship football teams before lettering for three years in college football at Bucknell University, where he graduated in 1955 with a degree in Commerce and Finance. While at Bucknell, he joined the Theta Chi fraternity.
After college, he joined the Marine Corps, and married Dolores Popiel at St. Adalbert R.C. Church in Philadelphia in April of 1956. Their first son was born at Camp Lejeune. After his discharge from the service Henry and Dolores had another son, and in the early 60’s settled in the Millbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia. Hank started work as an insurance agent for Allstate Insurance, first at the Sears building on Roosevelt Boulevard, and later opened his own agency with his long-time business partner William Pollack, which eventually moved to Feasterville, PA.
We fondly remember many scenes from Hank and Dolores’ lives; their house in Southampton where they lived from 1972 to 1998, and then other homes as they moved to different retirement communities in Central and Upper Bucks County. We remember his Lincoln Town Cars; the last one met its ignominious end during Cash for Clunkers. He was a fan of the Eagles and the Phillies. He was also a big fan of the beach, and spent many happy summer days at his sister-in-law’s places in Ventnor and Margate, and later took his sons’ families to beach house rentals in Ocean City, NJ. He loved sitting out on the beach and getting incredibly tan. He loved taking the grandkids into the water and strolling the boardwalk and playing mini-golf. He and Dolores traveled extensively around the world, seeing Europe and Asia. As they approached their 50th wedding anniversary, in 2005 they treated their sons and their families to a grand Disney cruise vacation to the Bahamas.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dolores, and their two sons, John (Barbara), and Stephen (Marlane), and four grandchildren, Matthew, Sarah, Jillian, and Leah. He was preceded in death by his sister Barbara Rogozinski who died last year, and who is survived by her husband Frank, and son Michael (April). Hank is survived also by many nieces and nephews on his wife’s side.
Interment will be at Washington Crossing National Cemetery at the convenience of the family. A memorial service will be held at a later date when it is safe to do so. Final arrangements made by Shelly Funeral Home,
Contributions in Hank’s memory may be directed to the charity of your choice. Hank’s family would like to thank the staff at Bristol House Memory Care for their kindness and care for Hank under the extraordinary circumstances of this year, and to thank the Southeastern Health Care at Home Hospice team. You were there when we weren’t allowed to be.
We will remember Hank for his geniality and compassion. We’ll remember him for his chuckle and smile. And we’ll remember him for the times we were able to share as a family. Even if his condition was not directly caused by COVID, we can’t help but think about the final moments we missed out on due to isolation and separation protocols, and we know that we are joining many, many other families across the world mourning the loss of a loved one this godforsaken year.
Thank you for everything, Dad. We will always love you.