Henry Joseph Wernoch (Hank), 88, a devout, kind, compassionate, loving family man and friend, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2022. He was a longtime resident of Somerville, NJ.
Born and raised in Linden, New Jersey to the late Joseph and Anna Wernoch (nee Brzoska), he graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Elizabeth, NJ and went on to serve his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Grand Canyon during the Korean War. After returning from the war, Hank graduated from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ with a B.S. in English before attending Seton Hall University where he received his M.A. in Supervision and Administration.
Hank started his career as an English teacher at Colonia Junior High School, and then continued at Bridgewater Raritan High School West and Watchung Hills Regional High School. He was promoted to vice principal at Watchung Hills in 1971 launching his career as a secondary school administrator. Hank was the principal of Dunellen High School from 1975-1984 and the principal of John P. Faber School from 1984-1988. His influence enabled countless improvements to the school system and curriculum which focused on providing every student the opportunity for success.
Hank was a master educator who had an outstanding reputation for his success in leadership, administration, supervision, and teaching. He retired from public education in 1988 but continued to teach and mentor in various capacities for an additional fifteen years. He was honored to be an adjunct professor of Supervision and Curriculum at his alma mater St. Peter’s College. Later he was thrilled to return to the classroom as an English and History teacher at Immaculata High School. Education brought joy and fulfillment to his life and he considered it a privilege to impact young lives.
Hank was a loving husband to the late Grace Kelly Wernoch for 36 years and together they raised their five children on West Summit Street in Somerville. Hank was an excellent cook and the family enjoyed Sunday dinners with the Happy Bernie Polka Party on the radio, football on the TV and galumpkis on the stove. Hank held many “important meetings” on the front porch of their West Summit Street home and together with Grace, hosted family and friends with plenty of food and drink to spare. Hank enjoyed tending to his garden, despite the annual battle with the local groundhogs. He had a tremendous acumen for mental math, was a master grammarian and expert speller. If a Scrabble board emerged in any room, it immediately became his coliseum where he would reign supreme.
Hank was a dedicated longtime parishioner of The Church of The Immaculate Conception. He served as a lector, Eucharistic Minister and volunteered for bingo and the finance committee. He was a member of the Somerville Elks and Knights of Columbus and took pride in the philanthropic work done by these organizations. Hank was elected to the Somerville town council in 1984 and active in the community for many years.
Hank was preceded in death by his beloved wife Grace, his three revered sisters Josephine Hynes, Irene Giegrich, Mary Pasanda and brother Edward Wernoch.
Hank is survived by his loving children, Susan and Ken Troise, Annemarie and Jim Hauschild, Tom and Wendy Wernoch, Ellen and David Frauenheim, and Matt Wernoch, his eleven cherished grandchildren, Nicholas, Maia, Patrick, Luke, Adam, Gillian, Caroline, Jack, Lily, Grace and Erin, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
In 1980 Matthew Wernoch, Hank and Grace’s youngest son was diagnosed with leukemia. Matthew was treated and cured, by a committed team of doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC. Hank and Grace, recognizing the need for more services for the children and families at Mount Sinai, were founding members of Tomorrows Children’s Fund, a charity dedicated to helping parents and children diagnosed with cancer and serious blood disorders. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Tomorrows Children’s Fund (tcfkid.org) now located at Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
The entire Wernoch family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Parker at Monroe care partners for their abundant and compassionate tenderness towards Hank. Their names are too numerous to list individually, but all of them, are engraved in our hearts forever.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00PM on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at Cusick Funeral Home, 80 Mountain Avenue, Somerville.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 10:30AM at The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Somerville. Family and friends are welcome to gather beginning at 9:15AM at the funeral home.
Born and raised in Linden, New Jersey to the late Joseph and Anna Wernoch (nee Brzoska), he graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Elizabeth, NJ and went on to serve his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Grand Canyon during the Korean War. After returning from the war, Hank graduated from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ with a B.S. in English before attending Seton Hall University where he received his M.A. in Supervision and Administration.
Hank started his career as an English teacher at Colonia Junior High School, and then continued at Bridgewater Raritan High School West and Watchung Hills Regional High School. He was promoted to vice principal at Watchung Hills in 1971 launching his career as a secondary school administrator. Hank was the principal of Dunellen High School from 1975-1984 and the principal of John P. Faber School from 1984-1988. His influence enabled countless improvements to the school system and curriculum which focused on providing every student the opportunity for success.
Hank was a master educator who had an outstanding reputation for his success in leadership, administration, supervision, and teaching. He retired from public education in 1988 but continued to teach and mentor in various capacities for an additional fifteen years. He was honored to be an adjunct professor of Supervision and Curriculum at his alma mater St. Peter’s College. Later he was thrilled to return to the classroom as an English and History teacher at Immaculata High School. Education brought joy and fulfillment to his life and he considered it a privilege to impact young lives.
Hank was a loving husband to the late Grace Kelly Wernoch for 36 years and together they raised their five children on West Summit Street in Somerville. Hank was an excellent cook and the family enjoyed Sunday dinners with the Happy Bernie Polka Party on the radio, football on the TV and galumpkis on the stove. Hank held many “important meetings” on the front porch of their West Summit Street home and together with Grace, hosted family and friends with plenty of food and drink to spare. Hank enjoyed tending to his garden, despite the annual battle with the local groundhogs. He had a tremendous acumen for mental math, was a master grammarian and expert speller. If a Scrabble board emerged in any room, it immediately became his coliseum where he would reign supreme.
Hank was a dedicated longtime parishioner of The Church of The Immaculate Conception. He served as a lector, Eucharistic Minister and volunteered for bingo and the finance committee. He was a member of the Somerville Elks and Knights of Columbus and took pride in the philanthropic work done by these organizations. Hank was elected to the Somerville town council in 1984 and active in the community for many years.
Hank was preceded in death by his beloved wife Grace, his three revered sisters Josephine Hynes, Irene Giegrich, Mary Pasanda and brother Edward Wernoch.
Hank is survived by his loving children, Susan and Ken Troise, Annemarie and Jim Hauschild, Tom and Wendy Wernoch, Ellen and David Frauenheim, and Matt Wernoch, his eleven cherished grandchildren, Nicholas, Maia, Patrick, Luke, Adam, Gillian, Caroline, Jack, Lily, Grace and Erin, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
In 1980 Matthew Wernoch, Hank and Grace’s youngest son was diagnosed with leukemia. Matthew was treated and cured, by a committed team of doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC. Hank and Grace, recognizing the need for more services for the children and families at Mount Sinai, were founding members of Tomorrows Children’s Fund, a charity dedicated to helping parents and children diagnosed with cancer and serious blood disorders. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Tomorrows Children’s Fund (tcfkid.org) now located at Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
The entire Wernoch family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Parker at Monroe care partners for their abundant and compassionate tenderness towards Hank. Their names are too numerous to list individually, but all of them, are engraved in our hearts forever.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00PM on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at Cusick Funeral Home, 80 Mountain Avenue, Somerville.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 10:30AM at The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Somerville. Family and friends are welcome to gather beginning at 9:15AM at the funeral home.