Francis Stanley Pinkowski

   Capt. Francis Stanley Pinkowski, USNR Retired, died at Westerly Hospital Dec. 22.
   Born in Nanticoke, Pa., in 1927, he graduated from Nanticoke High School in 1944. That same year, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving in the Asiatic/Pacific Theatre of Operations. At the end of his tour of duty, he attended Wilkes College, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., acquiring a bachelor’s degree in economics. In 1950 he was recalled for the Korean Conflict, commissioned ensign in 1951, and attended Officers Candidate School, Newport, R.I.. He continued his service in the U.S. Naval Reserve until he retired in 1987.
   Mr. Pinkowski earned a Certification of Education from Wilkes College in 1953. He taught and acted as head football coach at Bordentown Public School, Bordentown; taught and acted as head football coach and wrestling coach at Clarks-Summit Abington Public Schools, Clarks-Summit, Pa., and was an instructor for the Department of Education and head football and baseball coach at Wilkes College.
   In 1960, he earned a master’s degree in administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, N.Y. During 1962-63, he was a research associate, Institute of Administrative Research at Teachers College, acquiring 70 additional hours of graduate credits.
   From 1963-1991, Mr. Pinkowski was employed by the New Jersey State Department of Education. From 1963-1965 he was acting supervisor of the Office of Statistics; from 1965-1968, administrative aide to the commissioner of education; from 1968-1976 assistant director, Office of Evaluation; from 1976-1983, assistant director, Office of Management Information; and as director, Fall Survey from 1983-1991.
   He prepared and published “Administrative Problems in NJ Public Education 1953-54 to 1963-64.” From 1970-1986 he was an adjunct faculty member at Rider College, Trenton State University and Mercer County Community College. He retired in 1991.
   After retirement he was an adjunct faculty member and assistant football coach at The Pennington School, Pennington.
   Mr. Pinkowski also was president of the Hopewell Valley YMCA, president of the Hopewell Valley Little League, president of the PennBrook Swim Club, served on the Board of Directors of the Ewing Lions Club, was a member of the Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339, was a baseball official, football official, baseball coach and football coach, was president of the NJ Interscholastic Athletic Swim Officials Association, and president of the Central Jersey Swimming Officials Association. He was named National Federation of Officials 1997 NJ Swim Official of the Year.
   Mr. Pinkowski and his wife moved to Pawcatuck, Conn., in 2001. He was a member of Mystic Lions, and acted as a swim official with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, and the Collegiate Swimming Officials Association. He was an ancestral colonel of Wilkes College.
   Son of the late Stanley Pinkowski and Mary Kamowski Pinkowski, he is survived by his wife, Mary Bender Pinkowski; one son, Mark F. Pinkowski and his wife, Elizabeth Baron; three grandchildren, Emma, Mason, and Megan; three nephews and four nieces; and many, many friends.
   A funeral mass in celebration of his life was held Dec. 28, at St. Michael’s Church, Pawcatuck, Conn.
   Interment was at State Veterans’ Cemetery, Bow Lane, Middletown, Conn.
   In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory be sent to The Development Office, 112 W. Delaware Ave., The Pennington School, Pennington, 08534.