Stefan Henryk Jurkiewicz

On Monday, August 19, 2019, Stefan Henryk Jurkiewicz passed away. He was the beloved husband of Krystyna Bozena Jurkiewicz, the devoted father of Thomas Yurkevich and Karolina O'Connor, the loving brother of Elzbieta Lukomska and Anna Abramowicz, and the cherished grandfather of Cheyanne Bernard and Nathan O'Connor. He is also survived by many other loving family members and friends.

Stefan was born in Gostynin, Poland in 1949. He graduated with a B.S. (1972) and an M.S. (1974), both in Naval Architecture from the University of Gdansk in 1974. From 1974 to 1978, Stefan worked as an engineer at the Komuna Paryska Gdynia Shipyard in Gdynia, Poland, where he contributed to the design of container, fishing, and towing ships. In 1978, Stefan was promoted to lead engineer of the structural and theoretical analysis department. During his time at the shipyard in Gdynia, Stefan met Krystyna in 1979.

In 1980, Stefan’s shipyard experienced strikes, and Poland’s communist government instituted martial law. Fearing for their safety, Stefan and Krystyna decided to leave Poland. They traveled to a refugee camp in Austria and eventually immigrated to the United States, where Stefan hoped to find work in the thriving ship building industry.

Stefan and Krystyna married soon after arriving in Michigan in 1982. With the support of local churches, they lived in a small home with two other refugee families. Fortunately, Stefan landed a job at the Maryland Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in Baltimore. He later transferred to the Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipyard in Sparrows Point, Maryland. In 1989, Stefan began his career with the United States Coast Guard as a naval architect. He retired in 2014 due to Parkinson’s disease.

In lieu of flowers or donations, please consider supporting glioblastoma research by participating in the next Glioblastoma Awareness Day or by spreading awareness. Visit braintumor.org for more information.

Friends and family are welcome to attend the funeral service, officiated by Fr. Richard Czerniak, on Saturday, August 31 at 10:00 AM at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy Holy Rosary Church, 408 S. Chester Street, Baltimore. Interment in Holy Rosary Cemetery.  Arrangements are being handled by the Kaczorowski Funeral Home, P.A.,  1201 Dundalk Avenue, Dundalk, 410-633-0000.

Immediately following the funeral service, please join us in celebrating the life and times of our beloved Stefan Henryk Jurkiewicz at a luncheon reception from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the G & M Restaurant, 804 N. Hammonds Ferry Road, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090.