Obituary for Paul Myron Strzempka
Paul Myron Strzempka
“All spirit comes at last, home again...to God.” Paul Myron Strzempka peacefully passed away on July 16, 2021 at his home in Thomas Mills, PA holding the hand of Carol, his beloved wife of 59 years. He was 83 years old. Paul was born in Buffalo, NY on December 10, 1937. He is survived by his wife, Carol (Bogdan) Strzempka; his children Gregory of Seattle, WA, Christopher of Findlay, OH, Elizabeth (Al-ghusbi) of Denton, MD, and Lyn (Sutton) of Denton, MD and their spouses Cathy Strzempka, Anwar Al-ghusbi, and Lee Sutton; his eleven grandchildren Joseph and his wife Maya, Emlyn, Matt, Sam, John, Omar, Peter, Carolyn, Paul, Pearl, and Christopher; one great-grandson, August Paul Strzempka; his brother, Gerald Strzempka, of Sarasota, FL; his sister-in-law Cecelia Strzempka and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Strzempka and mother, Florence (Niemczyk), of Buffalo, NY; his brother, Eugene; his aunt Sister Virgil, and daughter-in-law Elyse Steinman. He loved his family.
Paul graduated from Canisius High School, Buffalo, NY in 1955, Canisius College in 1959, and completed his Master’s Degree in Classics at the University of Pittsburgh. He proudly served in the U.S. Army in Army Intelligence (1959 - 1961) at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Paul started his beloved teaching career at Star Point High School, Cheektowaga NY in 1961, and then John F. Kennedy High School. In 1969, he moved his family to Pittsburgh, PA to teach Greek Mythology and Latin at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1971, Paul and his family moved to Johnstown, PA where he served as the Associate Academic Dean and continued to teach at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, until his retirement in 2000. He was regarded with respect and affection by his colleagues and the countless students that he helped guide through their academic challenges and successes. He was the advisor for the Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma at UPJ and was known for his voice that would echo from his classroom expressing his enthusiasm for learning.
Paul and his wife cherished their time at Holy Cross Parish in Jerome, PA where they both taught CCD and enjoyed many festivities and their fellow parishioners until the Church’s closure, and most recently attended St. John Gualberts Parish, Johnstown, PA.
Paul was deeply proud of his family's Polish heritage and the city of Buffalo. He was an avid Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Pirates fan. Years of attending their games were a joy to him and his family. He loved playing ball; shoveling Blough’s pond for ice skating; coaching pony league baseball; throwing the football; tobogganing; filling up a small swimming pool for his grandchildren; and taking them on long hikes. Exercise was his passion. You could find him running, playing basketball at his lunch hour, cross country skiing, hiking with Carol and his family, and ultimately boxing. He read everything he could get his hands on, loved baking bread, gardening, and listening to music, notably his son’s bands.
Paul was diagnosed 9 years ago with Parkinson’s Disease. A disease he fought until the end of his life which included tireless work at Vantage Therapy in Johnstown, Rock Steady Boxing with Donnie at the FWA Gym, Johnstown, and also the Chesapeake of the Y, in Easton, MD.
A Celebratory Mass will be held on Friday, July 30, 2021, at 1:30 pm, at St. John Gualbert’s Parish, 117 Clinton St., Johnstown, PA 15901 for all family and friends. Rev. Father James Crookston officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations made payable to: FWA Gym, 200 Lincoln St., Johnstown, PA 15901 and please note - in memory of Paul-Rock Steady Boxing. This will help provide scholarship and opportunity for others living with Parkinson’s enabling their participation in the valuable Rock Steady Boxing program that Paul so loved during the final years of his life. Arrangements in charge by Hoffman Funeral Home, 109 Church Road, Davidsville. To express condolences or plant a tree, visit HoffmanFuneralHomes.com.
We hear you Dad, “Let’s go Buffalo!!!”
“All spirit comes at last, home again...to God.” Paul Myron Strzempka peacefully passed away on July 16, 2021 at his home in Thomas Mills, PA holding the hand of Carol, his beloved wife of 59 years. He was 83 years old. Paul was born in Buffalo, NY on December 10, 1937. He is survived by his wife, Carol (Bogdan) Strzempka; his children Gregory of Seattle, WA, Christopher of Findlay, OH, Elizabeth (Al-ghusbi) of Denton, MD, and Lyn (Sutton) of Denton, MD and their spouses Cathy Strzempka, Anwar Al-ghusbi, and Lee Sutton; his eleven grandchildren Joseph and his wife Maya, Emlyn, Matt, Sam, John, Omar, Peter, Carolyn, Paul, Pearl, and Christopher; one great-grandson, August Paul Strzempka; his brother, Gerald Strzempka, of Sarasota, FL; his sister-in-law Cecelia Strzempka and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Strzempka and mother, Florence (Niemczyk), of Buffalo, NY; his brother, Eugene; his aunt Sister Virgil, and daughter-in-law Elyse Steinman. He loved his family.
Paul graduated from Canisius High School, Buffalo, NY in 1955, Canisius College in 1959, and completed his Master’s Degree in Classics at the University of Pittsburgh. He proudly served in the U.S. Army in Army Intelligence (1959 - 1961) at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Paul started his beloved teaching career at Star Point High School, Cheektowaga NY in 1961, and then John F. Kennedy High School. In 1969, he moved his family to Pittsburgh, PA to teach Greek Mythology and Latin at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1971, Paul and his family moved to Johnstown, PA where he served as the Associate Academic Dean and continued to teach at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, until his retirement in 2000. He was regarded with respect and affection by his colleagues and the countless students that he helped guide through their academic challenges and successes. He was the advisor for the Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma at UPJ and was known for his voice that would echo from his classroom expressing his enthusiasm for learning.
Paul and his wife cherished their time at Holy Cross Parish in Jerome, PA where they both taught CCD and enjoyed many festivities and their fellow parishioners until the Church’s closure, and most recently attended St. John Gualberts Parish, Johnstown, PA.
Paul was deeply proud of his family's Polish heritage and the city of Buffalo. He was an avid Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Pirates fan. Years of attending their games were a joy to him and his family. He loved playing ball; shoveling Blough’s pond for ice skating; coaching pony league baseball; throwing the football; tobogganing; filling up a small swimming pool for his grandchildren; and taking them on long hikes. Exercise was his passion. You could find him running, playing basketball at his lunch hour, cross country skiing, hiking with Carol and his family, and ultimately boxing. He read everything he could get his hands on, loved baking bread, gardening, and listening to music, notably his son’s bands.
Paul was diagnosed 9 years ago with Parkinson’s Disease. A disease he fought until the end of his life which included tireless work at Vantage Therapy in Johnstown, Rock Steady Boxing with Donnie at the FWA Gym, Johnstown, and also the Chesapeake of the Y, in Easton, MD.
A Celebratory Mass will be held on Friday, July 30, 2021, at 1:30 pm, at St. John Gualbert’s Parish, 117 Clinton St., Johnstown, PA 15901 for all family and friends. Rev. Father James Crookston officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations made payable to: FWA Gym, 200 Lincoln St., Johnstown, PA 15901 and please note - in memory of Paul-Rock Steady Boxing. This will help provide scholarship and opportunity for others living with Parkinson’s enabling their participation in the valuable Rock Steady Boxing program that Paul so loved during the final years of his life. Arrangements in charge by Hoffman Funeral Home, 109 Church Road, Davidsville. To express condolences or plant a tree, visit HoffmanFuneralHomes.com.
We hear you Dad, “Let’s go Buffalo!!!”