On April 6, 2019 Edward J. Michalski, Jr., 84, passed away at Gilchrist Center Howard County after a valiant battle with congestive heart failure. Edward was the beloved husband of Virginia (Corbin) Michalski; devoted father of Christopher Michalski (Carole), Mary De Luca (Mark); loving grandfather of Zachary Michalski, Caitlyn Michalski, Marisa De Luca and Andrew De Luca; adoring great grandfather of Mitchell Michalski; cherished brother of Loretta Hayden (Linwood), Chester Michalski (Kathy) and Alice Walter (Van). He was preceded in death by his father Edward J. Michalski, Sr. and Leona (Bielawski) Michalski.
Edward “Ed” graduated in 1952 from Sparrows Point High School, where former classmates would fondly remember him as their charismatic, easy going class president and captain of the varsity basketball team. After four years of honorable service in the United States Navy, 1952 to 1956, Ed began a 42-year career working at Signode Steel, a global manufacturer of steel and plastic strapping. While managing shift-work, Ed pursued an engineering degree at the McCoy College of The Johns Hopkins University, and earned a certificate in Engineering Drafting and Related Mathematics in 1958.
In 1957, Ed married Virginia, with whom he shared 61 wedding anniversaries and raised his family in the southeastern Baltimore County peninsula community of Edgemere. After retiring, Ed relocated to Columbia, Md. in 1998, residing in the River Hill Village and most recently at the Evergreens retirement community at Columbia Town Center, where he enjoyed playing pinochle with his friends.
An avid Baltimore Colts fan, Edward treasured the memory of being at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 28, 1958 for “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” when legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas led the Colts to beat the New York Giants in the first NFL playoff game to go into sudden death overtime. Ed was also a competitive bowler on his company bowling team and contributed to several team championships wearing his “Big Ed” team jersey. Affectionately called “Djadj,” a Polish nickname for grandfather, Ed’s sports enthusiasm brimmed widest, however, while cheering on his grandchildren’s basketball, baseball, volleyball, lacrosse and ice hockey games.
Family and friends may visit on Thursday, April 11th, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9pm at Witzke Funeral Homes, Inc., 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, Md. 21045. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 12th, 11am at St. Louis Church, 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, Md. with internment following at Columbia Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Gilchrist Center Howard County (Development Department, 5537 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 434, Columbia, Md. 21045).
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18