Eugene Szestak - Obituary

Eugene “Gene” Szestak died peacefully on April 30, 2024 at his home in Lanham, MD. Gene was born in a displaced persons camp in Ellwangen, Germany on August 26, 1948, the eldest surviving child of the late Teodor and Ksenia Szestak. His family emigrated to the United States in 1951, settling on the South Side of Pittsburgh, PA, where he attended St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School and South High. In 1968, Gene proudly became a United States citizen and joined the U.S. Army, serving two tours in Vietnam. He attended Allegheny County Community College and Point Park University, where he played soccer and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. In 1974, Gene married Mary Anne Hawrylak and they moved to Washington, DC to pursue their new careers. Gene worked for the United States Secret Service for nearly 30 years, served under seven Presidents, and ultimately attained the rank of Deputy Chief. In retirement, Gene enjoyed spending time in his beloved adopted hometown of Pittsburgh and especially enjoyed serving the community by cooking pierogies as a church fundraiser. He and Mary Anne loved to travel to locales including Germany, Ireland, Alaska, and Egypt. He enjoyed coin collecting, spending time at the pool with friends, and cheering on Notre Dame football. Gene is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Mary Anne; his daughter, Amy and son-in-law John and his siblings, Oresta (Michael), Zenon (Linda) and Luba. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary and Stefanie and his brother-in-law, Peter. A memorial Mass and reception will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Landover Hills, MD on May 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. and at Slater Funeral Home, 4201 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA on June 7, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The Szestaks would like to thank Gene’s medical providers and caregivers who served him with compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gene’s honor to HEROES, Inc. at https://heroes.org/.