John Joseph Slavik

John Joseph Slavik, 91, of Jersey City, New Jersey, passed away during his sleep on Monday, February 18, 2019. John was born on April 18, 1927 to the late Joe and Mary Slavik just three blocks from the Hudson River.
John graduated from Ferris High School in 1944, where he was not only a star athlete on his school’s baseball team, but also lead actor in his Senior play.
Following high school John got his big break with a semi- professional baseball team, the Springfield Giants. His first year in the pros ended abruptly when he was called to serve his Country with the Navy during World War II. After serving stateside for nearly two years, John was honorably discharged, and he decided it was time to move on from baseball and get a real job.
John held numerous management positions with the former Neisner’s Department store and crisscrossed the entire United States opening new stores. John then expanded his business travels to international routes traveling across the globe many times over in his management position in the industrial chemical field.
Earlier in his career, John married former fashion model Wylene Morris, and on March 17, 1962 a baby girl joined the family. John told anyone who would listen, ”The most beautiful baby in the world came floating down to me from a pink cloud!” They named her Julie Marie Verionica Slavik.
Years later John decided to stay stateside where he and Wylene eventually retired in Atlanta to spend some time with their grandchildren.


As a good friend fondly reminisced when he heard of John’s passing, ”John was the stuff of legends, a story teller extraordinaire, incredibly well spoken and well read, a true gentleman.”
John was that and much more even at 91 years young. He was a giant of a man still standing some 6 foot 3 inches tall and possessing a grip strength of any man one third his age. To the very end, John was good spirited with a quick and lively wit, complete with idiot savant-like memory recall. Always a charmer, the ladies continued to love him and his gentlemanly ways.
He was predeceased by the love of his life for nearly 60 years, Wylene Morris, and by his younger brother Joseph Slavik.
John is survived by his daughter Julie Budnik (Tom) step children Monica Morris (Steve) and Cliff Morris (Trish) and by his five grandchildren Kristen Byron, Justin Morris, Jordan Budnik, Brooke Budnik and Ben Morris, and two great grandchildren Olivia Byron and Mak Morris.
A graveside service, for family and close friends, will be held Saturday, February 23 at Honey Creek Woodlands in Conyers, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for memorial contributions to be made in John’s honor to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital or your local library.