Joseph Bardusch

Joseph Robert Bardusch
December 24, 1931 – August 17, 2025

Joseph Robert Bardusch, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2025, at the age of 93. The youngest of five children, Joe was born on Christmas Eve 1931 in Babylon, Long Island and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Joe lived a full life rooted in family, friendship and laughter.

The first in his family to attend college, Joe put himself through school by working as a soda jerk at Freitag’s in Bensonhurst. He attended Brooklyn City College, joined ROTC and earned a BS in Chemistry before entering the US Air Force. As a navigator, he flew all over the world and had fond memories of his many trips to Alaska, Hawaii and Japan. While stationed at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas he met the love of his life, Reva Fleer, at a YMCA dance. They married in 1956 and enjoyed over 69 years of love and adventure.

After serving in the Air Force, Joe was hired by Allied Chemical Corporation, working for them for over 20 years and rising to National Sales Manager of his Division. His time in the Air Force and Allied Chemical took him across the country resulting in children born in California, Ohio, New Jersey and Texas. In 1979, he took a risk and started his own company, RaChem, a private chemical distribution company, which he operated until his retirement in 1996. Joe lived life by his motto….”My Way”. To this day, his family and friends admire the courage it took to live with such conviction.

Family was always at the center of Joe’s life. He and Reva built a waterfront home in Brick, New Jersey that became the heart of countless family gatherings, celebrations, and memories. He adored his 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, who loved nothing more than listening to his stories and sharing in his humor.
An avid sportsman, Joe was often found with a golf club in hand. He loved boating and fishing, teaching his kids how to catch crabs in Barnegat Bay, and jokingly referring to his boats as “a hole in the water into which you pour money.” He also enjoyed tennis and woodworking.

Joe will be remembered for his quick wit, courage, and devotion to his family. His legacy will live on in the lessons he taught, the stories he shared, and the laughter he sparked.

He is survived by his cherished wife, Reva, his loving children, Mary Anna (Guy) Geier; Diana (John) Boyle; Robert (Susan) Bardusch; Chris (Pam) Bardusch; his grandchildren, Kati (George) Bozak; John (Mary) Boyle; Trey (Irene) Geier; Reva (Matt) Lynch; Kevin (Kendall) Boyle; Victoria (Daniel) Duncan; Ally Bardusch (fiancé Jeremy Fortunato); Justin (Hailey) Bardusch; Ryan (Brianna) Bardusch; Kyle Bardusch; Dylan Bardusch; and his great-grandchildren, John, Quinn, Callahan, Harper, Pippa, Tilda, Haven, and McKenna, who will carry his memory forward with love and pride.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11 AM at St. James the Less Roman Catholic Church, 36 Lincoln Ave., Jamesburg, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joseph’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

To offer condolences, please visit www.lestermemorialhome.com