It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of S. Jay Novak on April 3rd, 2025. Born on October 4, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, Jay was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Jay is survived by his loving wife, Ann Novak; his daughter Kathryn (Daniel) McKenna, his sons Jay (Jane) Novak, Brian (Elizabeth Grutza) Novak; his seven grandchildren, Dayna, Danielle, Ginny, Eleanor, Tess, Henry, and Jay Ziggy; and his five great-grandchildren, Violet, Josie, Casey, Levi, and Brody. He is also survived by his first wife, Judy Eberline, the mother of his son Jay; his sister In law Renee Novak; and his loving cousins, Kathy Green, Denys Agius, and Kenny Stilwell. He was preceded in death by his father, Stanley Novak; his mother, Kathryn Stilwell; and his brother, Terry Novak.

Jay was a devoted and caring family man. He and Ann cherished their summers spent in South Haven, Michigan, and enjoyed traveling to bed and breakfasts throughout the state. He always made time for his children and grandchildren, finding immense joy in smiling, holding, talking, and playing with them. Family gatherings were always made brighter by his presence, and it's said that every family photograph captured him connecting with one of his children or grandchildren.

Beyond his dedication to family, Jay was a fierce and intense competitor in the world of motorsports and racing. His passion led him to design over 25 cars, personally building many of them and over 50 chassis were built to his designs over the years by various builders. His dedication and skill resulted in over 100 SCCA wins and over 10 National Championships in both Autocross and Road racing. Jay's expertise extended to designing cars for customers in multiple classes, including an electric car for the challenging Pikes Peak Hillclimb. A proud member of the SCCA since 1969, Jay tirelessly pursued a National Championship, finally achieving this dream in 2007 with his son Brian behind the wheel. Two more National Championships followed, along with numerous wins by other drivers piloting chassis of his design.

In his leisure time, Jay was a voracious reader of science fiction and held a deep appreciation for the outdoors.

Jay's professional journey was marked by hard work and determination. After graduating high school, he worked his way through various mechanic positions, eventually running his own automotive shop. In the 1980s, he began his distinguished career at Ford Motor Company. Starting as a mechanic in the Experimental Vehicles Building (EVB), Jay's talent and dedication propelled him through the ranks. He became an engineer in the objective testing group, where he played a pivotal role in the early development of many of the metrics, tools, and hardware still used today in vehicle development. His racing expertise led to opportunities at Ford, where he consulted on many motorsports projects while in Vehicle Dynamics, including Stewart Formula 1, Jaguar Grand Prix, Champ Cars, and NASCAR. His career reached a significant milestone with his promotion to NASCAR Manager, where he worked diligently to help Ford secure its first NASCAR championship in years with Dale Jarrett and Roush Yates Racing in 1999. After many years of traveling to nearly every race, Jay returned to vehicle dynamics, ultimately retiring from Ford as the Technical Specialist for North American Car. He was a respected engineer and mentor to many young engineers and young racers. Remarkably, Jay achieved all of this without a college degree.

Jay will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him. His legacy as a loving family man and a brilliant mind in the world of motorsports, as well as a respected engineer and mentor, will live on.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 9th at the Dearborn Location of the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 22546 Michigan Ave.  Visitation Tuesday 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  Memorial contributions may be made to Capuchin Soup Kitchen