Bronislaus E. Szkudlarek
Bronislaus E. (Barney) Szkudlarek, age 92, of Stratford, beloved husband of Eleanor Strajk Szkudlarek, passed away on May 16, 2022, in Bridgeport Hospital in the company of his family. Barney was known for his kindness, sense of humor, and strong faith. He was born in Bridgeport on November 11, 1929, to the late Walter and Laura (Lisowska) Szkudlarek and was a lifelong area resident. He was a proud graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School’s Class of 1947 and Fairfield University’s Class of 1951, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in History. After graduation, he served in the United States Air Force in the Korean War, and was a Teacher and Guidance Counselor at Fair Haven Middle School in New Haven for 34 years. Barney was a faithful Catholic throughout his life and was an active member of St. Michael’s Parish in Bridgeport, Our Lady of Grace Parish in Stratford, and St. Lawrence Parish in Shelton. He loved music, particularly Fryderyk Chopin, Benny Goodman, and Glen Miller, was an avid reader, and enjoyed home improvement projects, western films, and pierogis. Barney found his greatest joy in being a father and grandfather – he was always the first to arrive in the school drop-off line, doled out many secret snacks too close to dinner, and was a passionate advocate for leniency on his kids’ and grandkids’ behalf. He was a proud regular at his family’s countless basketball games, band concerts, school musicals, track meets, birthday parties, weddings, and graduations. A devoted husband to his best friend, Barney held Eleanor’s hand through 67 years of marriage as they cruised, traveled to Disney, went on countless casino trips, and proudly watched their family grow for more than three generations. In addition to being survived by his wife, he leaves behind his devoted daughters, Laura Loso and Lynn Wilcoxson and her husband Alan, all of Shelton; his five granddaughters, Elizabeth, Allison, Sarah, Katherine, and Megan; five great-grandsons, Ryan, Nathan, Oliver, TJ, and Theodore; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Barney was pre-deceased by his brothers, Edward and Matthew Szkudlarek, and sisters, Regina Lian and Helen Cichocki. He was greatly loved and will be deeply missed. Friends and family may visit on Friday, May 20th from 9:00-10:30 a.m. in the Adzima Funeral Home 50 Paradise Green Place Stratford, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Lawrence Church, Huntington. Interment with full military honors will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Stratford. The family request in lieu of flowers donations be made in Barney’s memory to St. Jude’s Children Hospital ( www.stjude.org ) or to the Wounded Warrior Project ( https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org ) For more information or to make an online condolence, please visit www.adzimafuneralhome.com.