Robert J. Zifchak, 81, of Somerset, passed away at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset on February 23, 2020.  He was born in Astoria, Queens, NY on December 30, 1938. Robert resided in Somerset for the last 21 years; he formerly resided in Edison. He graduated from Queens College, Class of 1961 and received an MBA from NYU in 1964. He served in the US Army Reserves.  He was the Track Commissioner for the Public School Athletic League in NYC for 4 years. Robert was the Athletic Director and Chairman of the Health and Physical Education Department at Middlesex County College for 34 years, retiring in 2002. Robert will be inducted into the Middlesex County College Hall of Fame with the inaugural Class of 2020. He was the Director of Region 19 of the NJCAA for 29 years and inducted into their Hall of Fame. In 2014, Robert was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award in Track and Field for New Jersey.

Robert was predeceased by his wife, Josephine Zifchak, in 2015 and a son, Joseph Zifchak, in 1975.

He is survived by five children: Robert J. Zifchak Jr. and his wife, Suzanne, of Monroe; Christopher Zifchak and his wife, Susan, of Amherst, NH; Janet Riha and her husband, William, of Somerset; Lauren Gorecki and her husband, Thomas, of Marlton; and Gerard Zifchak and his wife, Christina, of Cumming, GA.  He is also survived by 12 grandchildren.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 26, 2020, 4-8 pm at the Flynn and Son/Koyen Funeral Home, 319 Amboy Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840. Funeral services will begin Thursday 10:30 am at the funeral home followed by an 11:30 am Funeral Liturgy at St. Matthias Church in Somerset. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Robert and Josephine Zifchak Scholarship Fund at Middlesex County College Foundation.