Final Salute

Jack George Szydlowski, 85, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, at his home in Clemmons, N.C., after a courageous battle with heart failure.

He was born Oct. 27, 1936, in Scranton, to the late Benjamin and Bertha Szydlowski. He married the love of his life, Marion Shaw Szydlowski, on Sept. 24, 1960, who preceded him in death. He served in the United States Navy (Seabees) from 1956 to 1982 and retired as a command master chief petty officer. He has had a varied career seeing duty in such places as Virginia, Delaware, California, Rhode Island, British West Indies, Alaska, Philippines, Hawaii, islands throughout the Pacific, Vietnam, Iceland and Maryland. He served three tours in Vietnam with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 in Chu Lai. He was one of the first to greet Astronaut John Glenn when he was stationed in Grand Turk Island, on board the ship (USS Noa, DD-841) following the historic three-orbit journey around the Earth on the Mercury Freedom 7 capsule.

After the military retirement, he served as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 22 years. Jack was an avid golfer (year-round, even in the snow). He loved to fish but his most favorite pastime was spending time with his most prized possessions, his great-grandchildren.

Jack is survived by one daughter, Robyn Scott, Clemmons, N.C.; one son, John Szydlowski, Clemmons, N.C; two grandchildren, Steven Scott and fiancé, Samantha, Lewisville, N.C., and Ryan Scott and wife, Angel, Clemmons, N.C.; 10 great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Kyara, Chelan, Aeryn, Sean, Jack, Saoirse, Deaglan, Skyler and Caleb; a sister, Shirley Paris (Joe) of Endicott, N.Y.; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a sister, Joan Silva; and a brother, Edward Szydlowski.

Viewing with family and friends will be Tuesday, 4 to 7 p.m. and services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m., both in the Edward Chomko Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 262 Railroad Ave., Scranton. Entombment with military honors will follow in Fairview Memorial Park Mausoleum, Elmhurst.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Jack’s favorite charity.