Alex Gorichky, Sr.

Born in Pennsylvania to immigrant Croatian parents, Alex brought his wife, Mary Lou and two children, Alex, Jr. and Lisa to Cocoa Beach, Florida in the summer of 1965. The family soon became avid water enthusiasts, swimming, boating, water-skiing, and fishing. Alex remarked the first Christmas here, “I wonder what the poor folk up North are doing?”, since they were buried in snow and ice while we were swimming in the pool. Alex was a farmer, a mechanic, a machinist, a welder, basically a jack of all trades, a musician, a fisherman, a loving father and husband. There was nothing that he couldn’t fix… with enough WD-40 and duct tape!

Employed by Boeing, Alex worked as a machinist and welder at Kennedy Space Center for 24 years, retiring when Mary Lou passed in 1992. However, retirement didn’t slow him down, as he was constantly tinkering with one project or another, mostly his collection of boats. He was a veteran of the Korean War, a member of Our Savior Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, and the Florida Sport Fishing Association.

Alex taught many family members, friends, and neighbors how to water-ski, fish, and play musical instruments. He played the guitar, mandolin, electric bass, standup bass, banjo, harmonica, and (attempted) the violin. Alex was also a prolific storyteller, and he loved to share stories of his life on the family farm in Pennsylvania, the Army, the days at the Space Center, and his family life. Some of his favorite phrases (dad-isms) were, “Mighty fine chow”, “Now, wait a while”, “You mean you have to eat every day?”, and “You think I come to this country yesterday?” the latter with a heavy Croatian accent.

The family has a lifetime of memories to share for many years to come, especially the many family trips to the Florida Keys, lobstering, scuba diving and fishing. Alex was most proud of his role as father, grandfather, and great grandfather, as this was the true joy of his life and brought him much happiness. Alex will be forever missed by his loving family.

Preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Lou Gorichky, Alex is survived by his wife, Robin Kruse-Gorichky, sister, Rose Horodnic, son and daughter-in-law, Alex, Jr. and Tammy, and daughter Lisa. Alex’s grandchildren, spouses and great-grandchildren include Jennifer, Ty, Caty and Ally Hill, Karrson Hill, Alex, III, Beth, Logan and Shelby Gorichky, and Michael and Colleen Gorichky.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Anglers for Conservation (http://www.anglersforconservation.org/donations-memberships/) or the American Cancer Society.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 from 6-8pm at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home, 1360 N. Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953. A mass of Christian Burial will be at Our Savior Catholic Church, 5301 N. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 on Thursday, December 24, 2015 at 10:30AM, with interment in Brevard Memorial Park in Cocoa, FL.