Michael Kurilecz

Michael Kurilecz M.D., F.A.C.O.G. oldest child of Peter and Sophie Chach Kurilecz passed away on March 3, 2011. Growing up in Yonkers, New York, Mike was a member of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish and graduated from Yonkers High School. He attended Fordham University where he was a member of the ROTC unit. After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1943 he was assigned to the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) medical studies program. He attended the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston where he met his future bride, Betty Jean, and graduated in 1949. Commissioned as an Assistant Surgeon in the Public Health Service he was assigned to Detroit Marine Hospital. He was recalled to service as the Medical Officer in Charge for the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. There he and his wife met their life-long friends Dr. Robert L. di Benedetto and his wife Nathalie. Returning to Dallas in 1954, Mike completed his OB/GYN residency at St. Paul Hospital. In 1961 he achieved board certification from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He maintained offices in North Dallas and Mesquite until his retirement from medicine in 2000. Mike delivered thousands of babies during his career at St Paul, Baylor, Methodist, Mesquite Community and Doctors Hospitals. He was one of the founding physicians of Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. Mike was also known for his support and encouragement of minority physicians in gaining operating privileges at area hospitals. He provided healthcare to unwed mothers helping them through the adoption process. He often donated his medical fees to local schools and churches. His life-long love affair with golf began when as a 12 year old he became a caddy at Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers. He achieved a single-digit handicap and one of his greatest achievements was winning the 1973 International Golfing Fellowship of Rotary Tournament at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, TX. He followed up that victory in 1977 when he and Hart Brooks won the team low-net competition with a score of 581 while representing Rotary District 581 at the tournament in Luxembourg. A long-time member of the Dallas Athletic Club, you could find him involved in all their tournaments, but the highlight for him was always the annual Father/Son and Father/Daughter tournaments. Mike traveled the world during his lifetime but without a doubt his most special trip was retracing the steps of his parents when he visited Slovakia in 2007 meeting many cousins. Mike joined the Rotary Club of Dallas and maintained a perfect attendance record for 53 years. Wherever he went in the world he made sure to locate a Rotary meeting. In 1983 he was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a member of the Dallas County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, American Medical Association and Theta Kappa Psi Medical Fraternity. Born August 16, 1923 in Yonkers, Mike is predeceased by his loving wife of 55 years Elizabeth Jean Schenewerk Kurilecz, his brothers, Peter, Joe, John and his sister Mary. He is survived by his sister Helen Kurilecz Zitaglio, his 5 children, Peter August, Michael, Jr., Paul Vincent, his wife, Jody Slider, Elizabeth Sophia, her husband, David Durham, and John Christopher, four grandchildren, Kathleen Elizabeth and Peter Gordon, Alexander Michael and Margaret (Maggie) Elizabeth, and numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. Rosary on Monday March 7, 7 p.m., Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home 7405 West Northwest Highway Dallas. A Mass of Christian Burial at Christ the King Catholic Church 8017 Preston Road, Dallas Tuesday at 1 p.m. Internment at Calvary Hill Cemetery 3235 Lombardy Lane Dallas. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Ursuline Academy or Cistercian Preparatory School.