Emil Lovas, age 97, passed away peacefully at Gulfside Hospice in Dade City on December 23, 2014 with his devoted wife by his side. Emil was born in Passaic, New Jersey to Andrew Lovas and Julia Veliky. He was predeceased by his 6 brothers and 2 sisters. He is survived by his wife, Anna Berezny Lovas of Dade City, FL, his 2 sons, Clifford Lovas of Dade City, FL (Sheila Loughlin) and Jeffrey Lovas, C.P.A. of Paramus, New Jersey, his 3 granddaughters, Donnas Wagner (John Wagner) of Apopka, FL, Karen Lovas of Jersey City, NJ, and Pamela Lovas of Costa Mesa, CA, his great grandson, John Vincent Wagner, his sister-in-law, Mary Lovas, and his cat, Smokey. Emil, part of the Greatest Generation, proudly served his country in the Navy in WWII. When he learned in 1942 that he would be shipped out, he married his long time love, Anna. They had a long and happy marriage for 72 years. Emil graduated first in his class of 317 and became a Navy Pharmacy Mate. He served on LCI 494 and participated in the allied invasion of Omaha Beach. He was discharged from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer. Emil attended Seton Hall on the GI bill and received a BA in accounting. He went on to be a Comptroller for Uniroyal Company in Passaic, NJ, as well as Merrick Scale and Penn Virginia in Clifton, NJ. Emil lived in Paramus, NJ for 63 years and was active in the community. He managed Little League and Babe Ruth League baseball teams. He was First Vice of the Catholic War Veterans (Father Washington Post 1710). He was a member of the Holy Name Society of Our Lady of Visitation Church. He was a past Treasurer of the Paramus Senior Pioneers.Emil spent his last 3 years living on his sons horse farm spoiling his grand dogs and enjoying the Florida sunshine. Services will be held on Monday, January 29, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. at Hodges Family Funeral Home, 11441 US Highway 301, Dade City, FL. Interment will follow at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (4899 Belfort Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32256) or Gulfside Center for Hospice (13100 Fort King Road, Dade City, FL 33525). The family is deeply grateful to Gulfside Hospice for their compassionate care of Emil in his final days.