Obituary of Edward D. Hatrak

Edward D. Hatrak, Sr., 89, of Ewing Township died Tuesday at home. Born in Trenton, he was a life long area resident. Edward graduated from Cathedral High School, post graduate work at Trenton Central High School and studied music at the Julliard School in New York. He completed the five year program in less than three. He was a composer, orchestrator, published musician and teacher for many years. Edward taught many of the better known musicians in the Trenton area. For many years, Edward was music coordinator and played the piano for the Ernie Kovacs Show. The two of them were high school friends and Ernie once titled a piece of music written by Edward, The Shopping Spree. Edward was selected by Louis Armstrong to conduct an orchestra in concert at the Trenton War Memorial in 1966. Edward conducted his own orchestra at the Hotel Hildebrecht, and toured briefly with Belle Baker as her piano player. He was very proud of the development of a music scholarship named after himself that was awarded to music students at Trenton Central High School and the former Cathedral High School. Edward had also served at one time, as the music critic for the Trentonian. Edward had served as Vice President of the Landlords Association of Central Jersey, and was a past member of the Executive Committee of the Mercer County Landlords Association. He also loved the game of bridge and was named an American Contract Bridge League Life Master in 1960. Son of the late Stephen and Anna Marko Hatrak and brother of the late Daniel Stephen Hatrak, he is survived by his son Edward D. Hatrak, Jr., and a brother Theador Hatrak. Also surviving is his devoted companion, Barbara Doncaster, and special friends Pasquale Maffei, and Ernest Dedes. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 10am in the Ewing Cemetery Chapel, 78 Scotch Road in Ewing. Burial will be in the Ewing Cemetery. Family and friends may call on Friday from 7 to 9pm at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515, or by visiting www.macular.org