Immaculata family remembers Briski
Assistant director of student affairs succumbs to long illness
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
Robert (Bob) A. Briski, assistant director of student affairs at Immaculata High School, Somerville, was remembered as an educator who was loved by students and meted out
discipline with affection.
Briski, of Whitehouse Station, died July 10 at the age of 66 after a long illness. He had worked at Immaculata since 1995.
He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Whitehouse Station, for 35 years and served as an usher for many years.
A funeral Mass was celebrated July 15 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Viewings were held July 13 and 14 at the Kearns Funeral Home, Whitehouse.
Briski, who missed the first half of this school year because of poor health, would say things such as, “You throw, you go” or “I’ll wait” as he tried to settle the cafeteria for grace before lunch. When he returned to school, the students gave him a standing ovation when he began to lead them in grace. According to the students, no one said grace like Mr. Briski.
As the school’s disciplinarian, Briski met with what he described as his “behavior modification club” or detention every day.
He also led the basketball timekeepers and associated with the football team.
Sister Margaret Peter of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters, Mass is a testimony to what Bob Briski meant to all of us. The Immaculata family will miss him.”
Lifelong educator
Briski was born Feb. 13, 1940 in Scranton, Pa., to the late Stanley Sr. and Alvina Briski. He lived in Franklin Township before moving to Whitehouse Station 35 years ago. He attended high school at South Scranton Catholic and graduated from St. Peter the Apostle, New Brunswick.
He graduated from Seton Hall University, South Orange, in 1961 with a degree in finance and business administration. He also received a master’s degree in administration and supervision, also from Seton Hall, in 1966. In addition, he attended Fordham
University, Bronx, N.Y., while working on his doctorate.
He was certified as a K-12 teacher and also as a principal. He began his career at Immaculata as a history teacher. He also taught at St. Peter the Apostle High School; St. Cecilia School, Iselin; and Locust School, Roselle.
Briski was a Principal at Leonard V. Moore (formerly Locust School) for 14 years.
He was a member of the New Jersey Principal and Superintendents Association; National Association of Elementary School Principals, and served as president of the Roselle Administrators Association.
He was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus of Council 6930, Whitehouse Station, and a former member of Council 1432, Somerville.
He served on the Union County Chamber of Commerce Educational Committee, the Union County Science and Alliance Steering Committee and the Narcotics Commission.
Briski also belonged to the Polish American Citizens Club, Whitehouse Station. He was an active member of Somerville Elks; Seraphic Mass Association; and Deborah’s Bound Brook Chapter.
He was predeceased by his brother, Stanley Briski Jr.
He is survived by his wife of over 42 years, Carol (Giarretta); a son, Michael of Rancho Santa Marguerita, Calif.; his mother-in-law, Marie Giarretta, brothers-in-law, Frank and Albert Giarretta, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, a foster child Alejandro Sinai of Chile and the entire Immaculata family.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations made to the Robert Briski Good Citizenship Award at Immaculata High School, 240 Mountain Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law