Nicholas Radgowski

(December 7, 1942 – March 25, 2017)

Nick Radgowski, who left high school short of graduating to help support his family but who later earned a college degree, forged a successful professional career in marketing and sales, traveled extensively on three continents and developed into a gourmet cook, died suddenly after suffering a heart attack at his Joppatowne home. He was 74

“His priorities were God and family,” says his son, Christian. “He was a very interesting man who lived every minute of his life to its fullest.”

Born in Baltimore Nick grew up on Bond Street in Fells Point and attended now defunct Holy Rosary Catholic School. While enrolled at Patterson High School his mother’s illness necessitated he withdraw prior to graduation in order to help supplement the family income. During his time working at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point plant he managed to earn a GED certificate. He continued his education at Johns Hopkins before transferring to the University of Baltimore, earning a degree in Marketing.

With six years in the National Guard to his credit, Nick embarked on his professional career at the American Bank Stationary Company before moving on to a four-year association with DOW Chemical. He then took a sales position with Becton Dickinson, a medical technology company, eventually advancing to national accounts manager and later district manager, retiring in 1997. He closed out his professional career with AstraZeneca, a research-based bio-pharmaceutical company.

In 2007 Nick stepped off the corporate treadmill to drive a school bus in Harford County. He was employed by Corbin Bus Company until his death, servicing Bel Air High School and Ring Factory Elementary.

“He loved that job and the interaction he had with the kids,” says his wife of 51 years, the former Joann Stankowski. “He was very fond of the students he drove.”

Retirement afforded Nick the time to devote to his passions for cooking, travelling, watching old movies and following the Ravens, Orioles and Maryland Terrapins.

“His signature dinner was a pesto sauce with shrimp,” says Christian. “You would stand in line for it during the holidays and if you weren’t near the front, you might not get any.”

Travel became an important part of their lives together. But first Nick had to convince Joann to overcome one of her phobias.

“Nick was scheduled for a trip to Jamaica while he was with DOW Chemical and wanted me to go but I was terrified of flying,” Joann recalls. “He finally wore me down. It was fantastic. Afterwards I asked him where we would be going next.”

What ensued over the following decades were jaunts throughout the United States, into Mexico and abroad to Europe and Africa. The travel log the family compiled is a list almost four pages long.

A special pastime of Nick’s was to watch old black and white classics, i.e. the 1942 romantic drama Casablanca, John Ford’s 1956 film The Searchers starring his favorite actor, John Wayne, and around holiday time, A Christmas Carol.

“He loved watching old movies,” says Nick’s daughter, Nichol Conley. “He would watch them over and over, especially A Christmas Carol, and he would quote dialogue from all of them.”

Another favorite of Nick’s was the 1961 drama The Hustler, starring Paul Newman. It was near the top of his list for good reason.

“Nick was a pool shark,” says Joann. “He learned to play in Kanes Pool Hall on Broadway when he was growing up. He was good enough to earn money at it. I remember when we first started dating I was dealing with some bee stings. We had about two dollars between us, not enough to cover a doctor’s visit. Nick said I’ll get the money. He found a pool hall and after a while came out with over fifty. He said now we can go to a doctor.”

Sports played a big role in Nick’s life. He had played football at Patterson High School. During his adult life he golfed and was a member of a men’s tennis club. Like many Baltimoreans of his generation he was an ardent Baltimore Colts fan. Later he embraced the Ravens and was an original PSL owner for season tickets. He followed the Orioles and the Maryland Terrapins with a similar enthusiasm.

In addition to his wife Joann, son Christian, and daughter Nichol, Nick is survived by three grandchildren; Jordan, Patrick and Nicholas, a son-in-law Jim Conley, two sisters-in-law; Lillian Kotula (husband Thomas) and Frances Legg (husband Bill), a brother-in-law Joseph Stankowski (wife Frances), a cousin Mira Olenderick and her son Arthur from Chicago .

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 29 at the Schimunek Funeral Home located at 9705 Belair Road between 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. A funeral mass will be offered Thursday, March 30 at 11:00 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 540 Joppa Farm Road, Joppa, Md.