Longtime Massapequa Park resident Charles Anthony Afanasewicz passed away on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. He is loved, missed, and survived by his wife of 55 years, Patricia (nee Dina); three children, Mark (Heather Hills) of Holbrook, NY, Eric (Corinne Magnusson) of Center Moriches, NY, and Elizabeth (Tom Hodgman), of Boston, MA; seven grandchildren, John, Amber, Cayden, Zaylan, Averi, Angelina, and Elyssa. He is also survived by his siblings Peter (Diana) of Massapequa Park, NY, Katherine Barry (John) of Huntington Beach, CA, and Frank (Tammy) of Lindenhurst, NY and eleven nieces and nephews.

Charles was born in Huntington, NY on February 23, 1944, to Frank and Anna (nee Cernowsky). He graduated from Aviation High School in 1961, where he studied aircraft mechanics. He was drafted into the Army in 1965 and served overseas during the Vietnam conflict. After active duty, he transferred to the Coast Guard Reserve, where he served as Chief Petty Officer in the USCG Group/MSO Long Island Sound. He was called up to active duty as part of Operation Enduring Freedom after the events of September 11th and ultimately retired from the service in 2004.

Charles served in the NYPD from January 1969 to July 2002, first as a Patrolman in the Midtown North precinct with his longtime partner Donald Skuza, then as a Sergeant in the Harbor Unit, based out of the Harbor Adam command. Charles was a first responder during the events of September 11th, evacuating victims from lower Manhattan in what became known as the 9/11 Boatlift. He subsequently served in the command center during recovery operations at Ground Zero.

Charles was an avid outdoorsman, and enjoyed boating on the Great South Bay, deep sea fishing in Alaska, deer hunting in the woods of upstate New York, skiing with extended family in Breckenridge, CO, soaking up the rays in Aruba, and playing golf as a life member of the AMVETS. Proud of his Polish heritage, Charles loved listening to his Sunday morning polka radio program and was a longtime member of the NYPD Pulaski Association.

Contributions may be made in his memory to the Police Self Support Group (donations may be made via Zelle or PayPal to PoliceSelfSupportGroup@gmail.com or via check made out to Police Self Support Group; checks may be mailed to John Asam, President 20 Crescent Beach Rd Glen Cove, NY 11542) or to the Good Shepherd Hospice Foundation (donate-good-shepherd-hospice.chsli.org).

A true American patriot, Charles will be remembered, celebrated, and missed by all who knew him.

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