Michael L. "Ski" Ptaszynski

Michael L. “Ski” Ptaszynski, 83, of Hernando, FL, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025 at Tampa General Hospital in Crystal River. A native of Baltimore, MD, he was born Nov. 8, 1941 to Michael and Louise (Hauptman) Ptaszynski, one of two children. Mike served his country, honorably and proudly, in the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1964, and was a retired Maryland State Trooper with 20 years of faithful duty. He was a road Trooper, later joined the Aviation Div. of MSP as a Medic, then finished his career as a Jet Ranger Helicopter pilot. “Ski”, as he was known to many, was of the Episcopal faith and moved to Citrus County, FL 26 years ago from Easton, MD. Mike loved the outdoors, once an avid deer hunter, but spent more time on the water crabbing, boating, teaching their children how to water ski, and crab. Favorite of all was Dottie’s crab cakes and Pineapple Upside-Down cakes. After retirement Ski spent time trying to lower his scores on the golf courses, finally obtaining two “Hole in One” events (July 21, 2006 @ El Diablo GC 102 yds.) and (August 17, 2012 at Twisted Oaks GC, 133 yds.) Ski’s perfect day might be a golf game with Dottie or his buddies, playing Texas Hold’em, or playing cards with the kids...(an added bonus for him would be if he beat his favorite (and only) daughter-in-law, Lisa.) A talented woodworker, Mike loved building anything with wood; whether it was something like a box for his wife to paint as a gift, a picture frame, or a shadow box as a gift for someone retiring. He built their last home in Maryland of mostly beautiful interior wood types. Ski owned a Cessna airplane and loved taking flights to lunch with Dottie or flying in formation with buddies with their Cessnas. In addition to his parents, Ski was preceded in death by his brother Bill Ptaszynski, and a granddaughter Erin Brighton. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Dorathea “Dottie” Ptaszynski, Hernando, FL; son Orlando Vecchio (Lisa), Mims, FL; daughters Michelle Shumway (Tyler), Provo, UT; Dorothy Gannon (Tom), Centreville, MD: Toni Buckley (Allen), Lincoln, DE; grandchildren Amanda Cordes (Steve Phillips), Glen Burnie, MD; Mason Freeman, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Julia Green (Nick), Bountiful, UT; Laura Lydickson (John) and Hannah Barth (Gavin), both of Provo, UT; David, also of Provo, UT; Peter Shumway (Josie), Ann Arbor, MI; Catherine Forsyth (Sean), Millsboro, DE; Dorothy Alexander (Dale), Ridgely, MD; Jennifer Gannon, Centerville, MD; Emily Buckley, Lincoln, DE and Michael Bennett (Fallyn), Dover, DE; great grandchildren Stella, MacKeen, Alex, Hazel, Walter, Dominic, Elzy, Bryan (USMC), Nellie, Dorothy Lee and Caidence.

A “Celebration of Life” with USAF Military Honors will be held on Sat., August 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM in the Grand Oaks Room of Fero Funeral Home & Life Celebration Center, 5955 North Lecanto Highway, Beverly Hills, FL.