Roy Puskas

Dr. Roy Puskas, a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away on December 6, 2024, in Mt. Holly, NJ. He died peacefully after a battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). He leaves his wife of 50 years, Linda (Amy, Medford, NJ), his son Brian and his family (Becka, Eva (age 13), Louis (age 12) and Reid (age 12), Portland, OR); his daughter Amanda and her family (Rich Hoffman, Riley (age 6) and Brooke (age 4), Media, PA); and his sister Janet Shaw (Dennis Shaw, Prescott, AZ).

Born in Passaic, NJ on April 16, 1943, Roy grew up in Garfield and Glen Rock, NJ. As a young man, he developed a love of the outdoors on family trips to Indian Lake (with Lou, Irene, and Janet) in the Adirondack Mountains. Roy graduated from Glen Rock High School in 1961, and later graduated with a degree in Chemistry from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He was passionate about pursuing medicine, but his career dream was interrupted after he was drafted. Roy served in US Navy for six years.

After his service, Roy began medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico, and it was during one of his school breaks at home in New Jersey that he met Amy in December 1972. In typical Roy fashion, he fell in love with Amy and asked her to marry him four days after they met! Amy and Roy were married at St. Philip's Catholic Church, in Clifton, NJ, on December 29, 1973.

Amy and Roy shared some special times in Mexico as Roy finished medical school, and then the couple returned to the Philadelphia area where Roy completed his general surgery training at Hahnemann and Cooper Hospitals. During this busy time, Brian was born in 1976 and Amanda was born in 1979. In 1985, the family moved to Toledo Ohio, where Roy completed a two year fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Back in New Jersey in 1987, Roy started his own private practice as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based out of Mt. Holly, where he worked alongside Major Darst, Jr, MD and his dedicated colleague and friend Brenda Brown, RN. He enjoyed caring for patients and running his own surgery practice until 2009. Even after closing his own practice, Roy continued as a surgeon assisting with cases at Virtua Memorial Hospital where he had made lifelong friends with many physicians, surgeons, nurses, techs, and almost anyone at the hospital, including orderlies and cafeteria workers.

Throughout his life, Roy was a nature-lover, avid hiker and canoeist. Roy spent numerous hours building elaborate koi ponds, waterfalls and blooming gardens at his home in Medford. His koi ponds and gardens were his gift to nature and he shared his craft with many friends. He loved to sing and was the best dance partner Amy ever had. Amy and Roy enjoyed special adventures visiting Hungary, hiking the highest peaks in New England, and skiing in Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. In later years, he renewed his interest in chess as he battled his grandsons in many competitive matches.

Amy feels that being married to Roy was even better than she could have imagined. She will always remember his humor, kindness, honesty, but most impressively, his love and admiration for his family. He was everything you could ask for and more. Amy feels so very blessed and grateful to be his wife.

Roy was a fantastic husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a man full of jokes and good humor for everyone he encountered. Roy’s life was full and he is loved by many family and friends. His beautiful blue eyes will continue to sparkle and shine.

There will be a mass at the Church of the Holy Eucharist, Catholic Parish in Tabernacle, NJ and a celebration of Roy’s life on Wednesday July 2, 2025, please check back, time will be announced at a later date.