Edward Henry Blockowicz, 90, of Catonsville, MD (Charlestown Retirement Community), formerly of Rockville, MD, passed from this life on January 31, 2017 at Gilchrist Hospice Center in Columbia, MD.
He was the beloved husband of Margaret (Patsy) Blockowicz, nee Stapinsky, his wife of 63 years.
Edward was born July 30, 1926 in Morgan, PA to Julia (Rakoczy) and Joseph Blockowicz.
He served in the United States Army in both World War II and the Korean Conflict and received an honorable discharge after both enlistments. After his service, he attended Clarion State Teachers College where he also played football and then obtained his Masters in Education at the University of Pittsburgh. He and Patsy were married June 6, 1953. He taught biology at McDonald High School in McDonald, PA where he also coached football before moving to Rockville, MD to raise his family while teaching and coaching football at Woodward High School in North Bethesda, MD and for Montgomery County, MD Schools until he retired from teaching in 1988.
After his retirement, Ed and Patsy enjoyed traveling with the retired teachers. They vacationed in New Smyrna Beach, FL every winter for 20 years with friends. He also enjoyed golf and worked as a starter at Needwood Golf Club in Montgomery County, MD as well as a scorekeeper and referee for county softball and basketball games for many years. He loved sports and enjoyed watching his grandchildren play as well. He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He and Patsy moved from Rockville, MD to Charlestown Retirement Community in 2015. Ed was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and great-grandfather.
In addition to his wife, Ed is survived by daughters JoAnn Santmyer (Garry) of Mount Airy, MD; Judith McNamara (Peter) of Ellicott City, MD; and son Joel Blockowicz (Veronica) of Potomac, MD. Ed was known as "Dziadzi" (Judgie) to his treasured seven grandchildren: Kyle Santmyer (Allissa) of Conway, SC, James Santmyer of Mount Airy, MD and Ryan Santmyer of Myrtle Beach, SC; Lauren (McNamara) Hollinger (Aaron) of New York, NY, William McNamara of Carlsbad, CA; Joel Blockowicz, Jr. of New York, NY, Margot Blockowicz (d) and Anna Blockowicz of Potomac, MD and two great-granchildren Lucas Santmyer and McKinley Santmyer. Ed is also survived by his three sisters: Genevieve Chatowski of Bridgeville, PA; Celeste Stasiowski of Carnegie, PA; and Loretta Miller of Clearwater, FL; and many nieces and nephews.
A mass in celebration of Ed's life will be held at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Community on the Charlestown Campus, 711 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD 21228 on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 11:00 am. The family will receive guests prior to mass from 10:00-11:00 am. Inurnment with military honors will occur at a later date at Arlington National Cemetary, Arlington, VA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ed's name to the American Heart Association or Catholic Charities.
Online tributes and condolences can be made at hubbardfuneralhome.com.