George Stalega, 86, a resident of Newtown for seven years and previously of Orangeville, Penn., died peacefully February 14. He was born and raised in Berwick, Penn., September 17, 1929, and was the youngest of 11 children of the late Catherine (Gerrish) and George Stalega.condolences@hellerfuneral.com.

He graduated from Berwick High School and during those years loved playing baseball, basketball and (despite his parents not knowing…) football. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1948 at the age of 18, became staff sergeant in 1949, and was promoted to master sergeant in 1952. Mr Stalega was discharged in March 1954. He joined the Air National Guard and was active for 24 years. His tour of duty took him to the Azores, France, and Spain.

Mr Stalega worked as a junior clerk and was promoted to senior clerk in the Stock Exchange in Connecticut. From 1965 to the early 1970s he was the chief financial officer for Fidelity Corporation. He became senior vice president in the New York Stock Exchange from 1975 to 1979. From 1979 to 1988, he became president of his own brokerage firm, Dent and Company, in Hoboken, N.J. He retired in 1990.

Mr Stalega was a very active man who loved to exercise and play racquetball.

His wife of 25 years, Margo Stalega of Ridgefield; his three children, John Stalega, and his wife Yolanda, and Michael Stalega, all of Hebron, and Deborah D'Weirdt of Rocky Hill; stepdaughter Deborah Russo, and her husband Sam, of Ridgefield; grandchildren Melissa, Nicole, Olivia, Jacqueline, Sarah, Phillip, and Miles; his sister Stephanie Stalega of Berwick, Penn.; and numerous nieces and nephews survive Mr Stalega. His siblings Mary, Nick, Catherine, Mike, Charles, and John Stalega, Anastasia Vallino, Estelle Sarabura, and Anna Vezendy predeceased him.

A prayer service will take place at 9:30 am, Friday, February 19, at Heller Funeral Home, LLC, 633 East Third Street, Nescopeck, Penn., followed by a Parastas Service at 10 am, at St Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, 706 North Warren Street, Berwick, Penn. He will be laid to rest in St Cyril and Methodius Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the funeral home, Thursday, February 18, from 6 to 8 pm.

Messages of comfort may be sent to

The Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown is in charge of local arrangements.