Rockaway Fire

Michael J. Bahnatka, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at Atrium Health Center in Pineville, North Carolina after a brief illness.

Born in Rockaway, New Jersey on September 6, 1930 to the late John and Christina Bahnatka, he lived in Rockaway for 79 years. He relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina in 2009, where he was a parishioner of Our Lady of Grace Church in Lancaster, SC.

He was a graduate of Rockaway High School and served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves before becoming a police officer in his hometown in 1955. He proudly served the community of Rockaway Borough for 42 years retiring in 1997 after serving the last 24 of those years as Police Chief. He was affectionately known as Mickey to all those who knew him. Mickey enjoyed golfing, skiing, ice skating and all forms of indoor and outdoor exercise. His greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. He was a quiet and reserved man, but made a huge impact on everyone he met.
He was predeceased in death by his brothers Edward and George, his son Michael in 1985 and wife Eleanor in 2004. He is survived by his wife Elaine ("Shirley"), daughters Linda Silvestri (Charles) and Maryann Davit (Anthony), and granddaughters Kathryn Love (Hunter) and Emily Davit. He is also survived by his step-children, Mark Whitecavage (Zeynep), Andrea Costanzo (Fred) and Leslie McKenzie and step-grandchildren, Eric and Alex Whitecavage and Lauren and Quinn McKenzie.