Emrick Prestash

Emrick Prestash was born November 11, 1923 and died May 5, 2021 at age 97 of natural causes.

Born in New Britain to Stephen and Catherine (Bonchak) Prestash, he was the seventh of eight children.  Emrick went to work at Corbin Manufacturing after graduating from High School in 1942.  He entered the Army in 1943 and served with the Battery D 571 ^st Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion and was later discharged in 1946.  The Prestash family was among the very few that had six brothers serving in the Armed Forces at the same time during World War II.  His brother Andrew was killed in action in 1944.  Emrick married his high school sweetheart and church parishioner Lovey Waida in 1945.  Together they had five daughters.  Lovey died in 1968.

Upon discharge from the Army, Emrick went to work with Bolles Display Service, working on signs and background displays for many of the stores in New Britain and surrounding towns.  In time, Emrick became the head of D&L display department.  As the D&L and Weathervane stores grew, Emrick became an assistant manager and served in the Avon, Corbins Corner, and Manchester Stores.  He served with the D&L organization for 30 years, retiring in 1985.

Emrick was active at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church and served on the Church Council, as a collector, trustee and president in 1968 and 1977 when the church celebrated its 67 ^th anniversary, Blessing of the Iconostas and Consecration of the Altar.  He also served as president of the Cultural Organization since its beginning in 1979 for over 20 years.  He was a member and commander of the Pvt. Andrew Prestash Post 15 Ukrainian American Veterans and commander of the Ukrainian American Veterans National Organization. He was a member of the American Ukrainian Citizen’s Club.

He leaves to cherish his memories by his children, Andrea (John) Tolomea, Linda Kohl, Debra Gerardi (Charles Barbero); another son-in-law, Doug Raineault; eleven grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.  In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by two daughters, Donna Raineault and Pamela Baczewski, two sons-in-law, Frank Kohl and Michael Baczewski; and by his brothers, Myron, Walter, Steven, Anthony, Joseph, and sister Molly Mancini.  He was also predeceased by his companion Anne Melnyk McAloon.

A private funeral service will be held at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home in New Britain.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church Youth Ministry.