Henry Orlowski

This world has lost a sweet, selfless, compassionate, comedic, and most loving human being on Tuesday, May 9. His being and energy were infectious and would bring all in his presence peace, comfort, and joy. Henry Orlowski was born on August 31, “in the famous year” 1944 in a labor camp in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan to Adele Fridlich and Salomon Orlowski from Łódź, Poland. After the end of World War II, he traveled by different trains back to Łódź to locate and reunite with family. He lived behind the Iron Curtain in Łódź for 10 years after which he, his parents, and his younger sister, Gina, were reunited with his extended family in Israel. His years in Israel gave him a safe place to be him, a young Jewish man, living and growing with his family. This ignited his love and dedication to the State of Israel. He traveled to New York by sea at 16 years old not speaking a word of English.

After graduating from Taft High School in the Bronx, he earned his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from City College of New York and his MBA from Stevens’s Institute of Technology. His work ethic elevated him from a management position to CEO of various manufacturing companies which led him, and his wife Michele on numerous adventures in New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago and Palm Coast, Florida.

He immersed himself into his acting passion and entertained us all on the many stages in the Palm Coast area. He was the recipient of a DayTony Award for a role he played at the Daytona Playhouse. If you were fortunate enough you would have seen him singing and dancing as Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof for Jewish Federation holiday parties, a Holocaust survivor event for his mother and fellow survivors, at temple gatherings, and in family rooms everywhere. He would bring all people to their feet to join him in song and dance.

Mr O, best Substitute ever at Flagler Palm Coast High School. Every where he went in Palm Coast you would hear “Mr O Mr O, best Sub ever!” He would enrich the classroom with singing and dancing, epitomizing the idea that nothing is more important in life than making others smile. He was also an Assistant men’s soccer coach for FPC’s High School soccer team. An avid sports fan and natural leader, he treasured his time with the worlds next generation of student athletes. Even after he finished coaching, you could find him on the sidelines cheering on the Bulldogs with his wife for years to come. He loved all his students, players, and the FPC community wholly and completely.

Although Henry was an Actor, Engineer, Teacher, and Coach the most essential aspect of his life was being a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. It all started with a blind date at Tel Aviv nightclub in Manhattan where a lifetime of love was sparked instantly. This love lead to 55 years of marriage, two beautiful daughters; Melissa and Stefani, their husbands, Jae and Scott, and six adoring grandchildren, Alex and his wife Victoria, Samantha, Alexandra, Aidan, and Emily. Words cannot describe the love and connection everyone feels for our wild and crazy guy, partner in crime, workout partner, confidant, best friend, provider of wisdom and reason, comforter, our everything.

Henry played the role of his lifetime: Patsy in Monty Python’s Spamalot performed at the Daytona Playhouse. This role emulated his being, because he “Always looked on the bright side of life.” A shining light for the world that will never dim, his family will carry his torch of life forward throughout the generations to come.

Donations in his memory can be made to The Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties where Henry served on the Board of Directors for many years, or to the Discretionary Fund of Rabbi Zev Sonnenstein at Temple Shalom of Central Florida.

Shiva will be held Thursday, May 11th at 6:00 PM at the Orlowski Residence, 51 Riverbend Drive, Palm Coast FL 32137.