Obituary: William Sledzieski, 72

William Leo Sledzieski passed away peacefully at home in Oxford, CT on July 29, 2012 at the age of 72 after a long battle with cancer.

He was predeceased by his parents, Leo and Mary Sledzieski of Mattituck, NY. Bill is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary (Pelc) Sledzieski and his two children and their spouses, Kathy (Sledzieski) Iannazzo and her husband Steve of Norwalk, CT, and Ron Sledzieski and his wife Nana of Southbury, CT. Bill is also survived by his brother, Robert Sledzieski and his wife Patricia of Riverhead, NY. He was blessed with 5 grandchildren, Nicholas and Melissa Iannazzo and Samuel, Sydney and Summer Sledzieski.

Bill was born in Greenport, NY on June 9, 1940 where as a child he helped out on the family farm. He attended Mattituck High School and the University of Georgia, where he graduated with a degree in Food Chemistry. He married Mary Pelc in 1963. Bill eventually began working for Standard Brands in Stamford, CT, where he was issued several patents. His foundational co-invention of low-fat, butter-flavored spread became Fleischmans margarine and has been referenced by 17 subsequent patents, with two as recent as 2008. Bill continued his career with Nabisco and eventually retired from Joseph Seagram Company.

Bill enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing cards with his friends and visiting The Villages in Florida. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends for his optimism, faith, and the loving care of his family.

Services:  A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 3, 2012 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 733 Oxford Road, in Oxford, CT at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, Southbury.

Visitation:  Relatives and friends may call Thursday, August 2 from 4-7 p.m. at the Munson-Lovetere Funeral home, 235 Main Street North, Southbury, CT.