Samuel A. Sokolik, Jr.

Samuel Alex Sokolik, Jr. passed away, at the age of 63, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, unexpectedly at home.  Born in Sacred Heart Hospital, Chester, Pennsylvania on April 20, 1961. Sammy was named after his father and paternal grandfather, and was a lifetime resident of the Essington section of Tinicum Township, Delaware County.

Samuel Jr. was baptized at infancy in St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, 4th Street, Chester, PA; being a parishioner there from birth through young teenager; then from young teenager through adulthood, Samuel Jr. was a 48 year member of St. Michael the Archangel Russian Orthodox Church, 4th and Fairmount, Philadelphia, PA.  Samuel Jr. attended special services and Liturgies at numerous Orthodox Churches throughout the Tri-state area his entire life.   As an active, faithful and devout servant of the Orthodox faith, Samuel Jr., while in his early twenties, was tonsured a Reader in the Russian Orthodox Church by Bishop Clement at the parish of St. Michael the Archangel.  He served as an Altar Server, Sunday School teacher, Church Council member, and on various committees to serve and support the Church and its people for over 6 decades.  In recognition of a lifetime of dedication and service to the faith, Reader Samuel was granted the honor of a Gramata from the Patriarchate of Moscow, which was presented to him by Archbishop Justinian in November 2013. 

As a youth, he was an enthusiastic participant in the Boy Scouts, and the Interboro Music Program.  He and his musically talented friends would get together to “jam.”  The alto saxophone and accordion were among his favorites.  Sam Jr. had an unending love for music of all genres.  He grew up surrounded by music and dance.  Keeping the beat to every song, all night long, at church festivals, polka festivals and conventions along the East Coast and Mid-West.  He enjoyed dancing the polka, however, his greatest times were spent talking to the musicians who many became treasured friends over many, many years of traveling and attending multitudes of events.

Sam Jr. was an active member of the Polish American Citizens of Camden County, NJ (PACC); Associated Polish Home, Academy Road, Philadelphia; United States Polka Association (OH); International Polka Association (Chicago, IL); Jazz Organizations as well as various groups, which support Music, Dance, Performing Arts and the Sciences in the community.  An avid reader of the printed daily newspapers, he never missed reading cover to cover the DelCo Daily Times, Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, and DownBeat, just to name a few publications.  Sam Jr. encouraged all to enjoy the benefits of the Delaware County Library System. He would take his family on outings to library book sales and fundraisers, music and entertainment programs as well as routinely frequent the library for materials.  Sam Jr. enjoyed sharing his passion for music; art; the performing arts; sports; board games; cultural, heritage and ethnic festivals; concerts; and movies.  Sam Jr. was a thoughtful, giving person not only to his family and friends, but to the community as a whole, many benefited from his endless kindness.

His educational studies began with attending Tinicum Elementary School, proceeding through Interboro Junior High and Senior High Schools, graduating in June 1979.  Sam Jr. always desired to grow in knowledge, never ceasing his education in the Technology and Computer Sciences.  Always expanded his studies continuously, beyond his formal training years at Glassboro State College, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Applications and Technology.  A 1984 alumnus of GSC, which is now Rowan University, Sam Jr. also attended University of Delaware and Widener University.  Sam Jr.’s experience granted him a career path which took him from a small company in Cherry Hill, NJ, to Ryerson Steel, in Chester County, PA and finally onto MBNA (Maryland Bank of North America) which eventually became Bank Of America, his current place of employment, for which he served diligently for over 30 years.  Sam Jr. was a mentor, and dedicated to his work.

Samuel Jr. is predeceased by his parents, Samuel Sr. and Julianna (nee Piecara); an infant brother, Gregory Alex Sokolik, who passed in 1967; his Godfather, Nicholas Zubko; his grandparents, Sigmund, Catherine, Alexander and Olga; uncles, aunts and cousins of the Sokolik/Sokoluk, Shelby, Morris, Piecara, Windsor and Gartland families.

Survivors include: one brother, Dimitri Sokolik (Malinda News) of Media, Pa; two sisters, Tanya Sokolik-Porch (Paul) of North Carolina; Nadine Sokolik (Kenneth Koscinski) of Essington, Pa; two nieces, Amelia and Lucia; Godson, nephew, Alexei; Godmother, Aunt Stella Windsor-Gartland; Uncle, Frank Piecara; many, many cousins of multiple generations and beloved friends.  His love for animals was evident as he passionately cared for all of his "nephew-pets,” especially, Nikolai the cat, and Chewie the dog.

Services: Visitation for Reader Samuel will be 9:30a.m., Saturday, June 15, 2024 in Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, Glen Mills, PA; Funeral Service in the church at 10:00a.m.  Burial will be at Lawn Croft Cemetery, Linwood, PA.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Tikhon’s Monastery of South Canaan, PA 18472; Holy Trinity Monastery of Jordanville, NY, 13361; or L.E.E.K. Preserve: Serving All Veterans of All Wars, 497 PA-244 Oswayo, PA 16915. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Samuel A. Sokolik, Jr., please visit our floral store.