Isadore Pendzick
Isadore (Dory) Pendzick of Riverhead died June 30 at Peconic Bay Medical Center from complications following surgery. He was 86.
He was a farmer, builder and well known as a mechanical “genius.” But when asked what was his greatest achievement, he would always smile and say, “My family.”
Dory was born Aug. 29, 1925, in Riverhead to Nastazy and Bronislawa Pendzick, the 10th of 11 children. He grew up on the family potato farm in Calverton, eventually working the farm with his brother, Carl. In 1948, Dory and Carl started a successful construction business, building custom homes and Butler buildings.
He married Irene Damulewicz in Northport on Aug. 28, 1949, and they enjoyed 63 years together. He also worked at the Board of Elections for 15 years, where he became known as “Mr. Fix-It” for repairing election machines.
At heart, Dory was a mechanical inventor. He built a potato combine, an innovative way to harvest potatoes. Whenever there was any task at hand, he invented a new gadget to make the work easier. His inventions were too numerous to count, from a gadget to carry heavy objects to a device that pulled stones from the ground.
He was a member of the Polish Town Civic Association and the Holy Name Society at St. Isidore R.C. Church, both in Riverhead.
Dory is survived by his wife, Irene, and their four children: Gary (predeceased wife, Lorraine) of Riverhead; Rick (and wife, Paula) of Franklin Square; Cindy Phelan (predeceased husband, Gary) of Riverhead; and Lori Romanowski (and husband, Mark) of Riverhead. Dory has eight grandsons: Dorian (and wife, Gaby), Anthony (and wife, Amanda), Mark, Chris, Keith, Nick, Adam and Eric. Dory doted on his three great-grandchildren: Lydia, Abigail and Marquez.
Visiting hours will be held Monday and Tuesday, July 2 and 3, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place Thursday, July 5, at 9 a.m. at St. Isidore R.C. Church, followed by interment at the church cemetery.
This is a paid notice.