Shirley Miller Babiak

Shirley passed away in her comfortable bed well cared for by her ALF and Hospice after a fractured hip at the age of 93. Shirley was born in Spring Valley, New York, attended Syracuse University on a full academic scholarship, and went on to graduate from Barnard College with a degree in education. In NYC she married her high school sweetheart, Demetrius Babiak. The couple moved to Palo Alto, California, where they birthed 2 children while Demetrius worked at the VA as PT. In 1953 the family moved to Louisville, Kentucky where Shirley taught English at the Speed Engineering School of the University of Louisville and Spalding College while Demetrius worked as Chief of Physical Therapy at Louisville VA Hospital. Shirley and Metro raised five healthy children enjoying tent camping around the country, gymnastics and swimming at Turner’s facilities, gardening, and all kinds of dancing. In the early 1970’s the couple became international folk dance enthusiasts, performing at the yearly Ukrainian Heritage festivals on the riverfront Belvedere and helped found the ongoing Louisville Ethnic dancers, and attending Kentucky Dance Institute with friends and grandchildren.

They retired and moved to Sarasota, Fl 1981 to continue a vigorous exciting life of travel to mostly Folk Dance festivals around the world, learning dances to teach in Sarasota and perform in in their community as the Babiak Dance Ensemble in authentic costumes Shirley made. They helped found the ongoing Sarasota Grapeviners Folk dance club. Most of Shirley’s 9 grandchildren trained and performed with the Babiak Dance Ensemble.

Shirley is survived by children: Cristina Babiak MD (Eric Sturgess) of Englewood, FL, and Andrew Babiak RPT (Leslie) of Sarasota, FL; daughter-in-law Rose Babiak of Louisville, KY; grandchildren: Stacy Janiak (Jeff); Dee Babiak (Heather); Sarah McClave (Ben); Jenny Ciszewski (Steve); Jonah Zwemer (Abby); Andrea Valet (Chris); Logan Babiak; Nick Condatore (Sasha); Maria Bullard (Trey); 17 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild. Shirley is reunited with her husband, Demetrius, and children Peter Babiak, Philip Babiak, Anna Condatore who died prior.

Shirley will be buried at Sarasota National Cemetery beside her dancing partner and husband of over 70 years on Jan 25.

Friends, family, neighbors and dancers are invited to join us outside in celebrating the life of Shirley and of her husband Demetrius: January 25, 2022, 12:30-4:00 pm, Nokomis North Jetty Pavilion, 1000 South Casey Key Road with music and dancing they loved and passed on as their legacy. Social distancing is encouraged.