Matthew I. "Matt" Kudla Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Matthew I. "Matt" Kudla, 94, lifelong resident of Passaic, passed away Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, 2014. Matt was a Tool Designer for the Walter Kidde Company in Belleville for 23 years retiring in 1983. In his retirement, Matt enjoyed hiking, drawing, woodcarving, big band music, a glass of wine, and spending time with his family He was a parishioner of Holy Rosary R.C. Church in Passaic, Eucharistic Minister, CCD Teacher, Member of the Guard of Honor, Troop Leader of Boy Scout Troop 8, and received the Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award. and was awarded the Vivere Christus Award by the Diocese of Paterson in 2010. Matt was a veteran of the United States Navy serving in WW II aboard PT boats in the South West Pacific, was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre medal with 2 Bronze Stars, and American Theatre Purple Heart. and was a member of PT Boats, Inc., in Tennessee. Matt also volunteered as Historian at the Battleship Cove Maritime Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts. Matt also authored a book, "Under the Cover of Darkness", in which he describes his experiences on Navy PT boats. He was a member and Past Commander of the Wallington V.F.W. Pavlick Koster Post 2640. Matt was the beloved husband of the late Sophie (nee Sobczyk), devoted father of James M. Kudla, and his wife Laurie, of Marshall, VA., Steven Kudla, and his wife Liz, of Forest Hill, MD, Susan Di Gregorio, and her husband Eric, of Hillsdale, and Joan Santoianni, and her husband Jim, of Pittstown, loving grandfather of Matthew, Rachel, Daniel, Timothy, Noah, Sophia, Christopher, Kim, Stephen, James, Katherine, Matthew, Justin, and great-grandchildren Stephen, Jr., Anna Marie, Cecelia, and Oliver, and dear brother of the late Josephine Kasica and Helen Kudla. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Battleship Cove Heritage Museum, 5 Water Street, Fall River, MA 82721, in memory of Matthew I. Kudla, would be appreciated. Donations should be made payable to Battleship Cove and marked "For PT Boat Exhibit"

Matthew I. "Matt" Kudla

July 27, 1920 - December 25, 2014