By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
Friends launch fund for family
Davenport Way resident Daniel Wasylak, 44, was killed Saturday after his vehicle struck a marked patrol car head on, and was then struck by a second vehicle head on on Finderne Avenue in Bridgewater.
The crash occurred north of Van Veghten Drive at 10:32 p.m.
”He was a very warm and giving person,” Davenport Way resident Joe Hernandez said of his neighbor of 14 years. “We had a good friendship.”
Mr. Hernandez said he often teased Mr. Wasylak’s love of soccer, calling it a “sissy” sport.
”I’ve been coaching baseball for years (and) Daniel used to be a semi-pro soccer player in Italy,” Mr. Hernandez said. “We were always in a constant argument over whether baseball is a better sport than soccer.”
Mr. Hernandez said his neighbor worked as a mortgage broker, and was currently vice president of Real Estate Mortgage Network in River Edge. He said Mr. Wasylak handled mortgages for many of the neighbors on Davenport Way.
But aside from his work, Mr. Hernandez said, Mr. Wasylak was an avid golfer and coached soccer. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Jane, an 11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old twin daughters.
”Jane is wonderful, (but) she is very distraught now,” Mr. Hernandez said.
Mr. Hernandez said he remembers moving into the neighborhood a few months after Mr. Wasylak did, where they met outside in the yard one afternoon. From there, Mr. Hernandez said, they forged a friendship that included the happiness of seeing Mr. Wasylak’s three children grow up, and the sadness when he was one of the first to arrive at the Wasylak household after police brought news of his neighbor’s death.
”My family and I will truly miss Dan,” Mr. Hernandez said. “Whenever we needed something, there were never any reservations about helping each other out.”
Helping out, Mr. Hernandez said, included scooping out water from basements after floods and just looking out for each other’s families.
According to police, Mr. Wasylak was driving southbound Saturday night, when he crossed into the northbound lane and struck a Bridgewater Township police vehicle. After coming to a rest facing north in the southbound lane, his vehicle was struck by a second vehicle, police said.
At this time, Bridgewater police Sgt. Luke Daley said, it is unknown why Mr. Wasylak crossed into the other lane. He said the investigation is still ongoing.
The patrol vehicle involved in the crash was being operated by Officer Jason Albanese, 33. The second vehicle was driven by Manville resident Anthony Mondrone, 77.
Officer Albanese and Mr. Mondrone were transported to Somerset Medical Center, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released.
Sgt. Daley said the police vehicle was totaled in the accident, and Mr. Mondrone’s vehicle suffered severe damage.
Traffic was shut down on Finderne Avenue for at least three hours, Sgt. Daley said, as motorists were detoured away from the scene.
Any witnesses to the accident are asked to contact Bridgewater Township Police Officer John Mitzak at 908-722-4111, ext. 4141.
A viewing will be held at Hillsborough Funeral Home, on Route 206, today (Thursday) between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The funeral service will begin at 9:15 a.m. Friday in the Hillsborough Funeral Home, followed by a Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, on Brooks Boulevard in Manville.
Burial will be in St. Andrews Cemetery, in South Bound Brook.
Mr. Wasylak is also survived by his parents, Walter and Slava Wasylak; and his two brothers, Roman and Alex.
Mr. Hernandez also said the Wasylak Children’s Fund has been set up in honor of Mr. Wasylak’s three daughters, and donations can be sent care of the Hillsborough Funeral Home, 796 Route 206, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.
”Dan was a kind soul, a great father, good husband and a wonderful friend and neighbor,” Mr. Hernandez said. “I consider myself lucky to have known him.”

