John Raymond Novak

John Raymond Novak, 81, of Bluffton, SC, passed away on January 13, 2017. He was born on May 15, 1935 in Perth Amboy, NJ to the late John and Anna Choma Novak. John proudly and honorably served in the United States Marine Corp from 1953-1961, stationed at the US Embassy in Rome, Italy. It was there that he met his wife Carla and where they married at the Vatican in 1958. He was employed for 37 years with Amerada Hess in NJ, beginning as a lab technician and chemist, finishing his career as an Executive in charge of the Quality Control Lab. His family will remember him as the most honest, selfless and generous man they ever knew. He loved nothing more than to spend time with his children and grandchildren, supporting them at all their events and teaching them everything he knew. John retired to Bluffton in 2005. He enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, kayaking and gardening. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Maria Carla; his daughter Michele Lively and her husband James of Lipan, TX; his son Kenneth and his wife Patricia of Hilton Head; his grandchildren Robert Ciambrano and his partner Ashley Murphy of Philadelphia, PA, Max Ciambrano of Lipan, TX, Garrett and Lydia Novak, both of Hilton Head; and his great-granddaughter Magnolia Mae Ciambrano. A celebration of John's life will be held at 10:00am, Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Sauls Funeral Home, 90 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton, SC 29910. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Park Foundation or Parris Island Historical and Museum Society.