Andrew J. Syska, 97, passed away peacefully at his home in Ft. Myers, Florida, on Feb. 21. He shared 72 devoted years of marriage with his beloved wife, Jean (Horsfield) Syska.
Andrew was born in Zgierz, Poland, to the late Czeslaw and Janina Syska. At the age of 12, his father woke him in the middle of the night to tell him that Poland “was no more.” Soon after, Russian soldiers forced Andrew and his family onto a crowded boxcar bound for Russia. They were sent to a work camp in Siberia — an experience that could easily have marked the end of a young boy’s life. Instead, it marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey.
Through resilience, determination and a measure of providence, Andrew was released from the camp and eventually enrolled in a Cadet School in Palestine through the British Army Education Corps. There he received textbooks, a uniform and the opportunity to rebuild his future. He later served as a member of the British Army during World War II. During this time, he learned English and began corresponding with a pen pal in England named Jean Horsfield. That pen pal would become the love of his life. Andrew moved to England, completed his education in engineering and married Jean.
In 1957, the pair emigrated to the United States with their growing family. Their first daughter, Anusia, was born in England, and their son, Richard, nearly made his arrival aboard the Queen Mary as they passed through Ellis Island. They first settled in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and in 1963 made their permanent home in Marblehead, where they raised six children.
For more than 30 years, Marblehead was the center of family life. Andrew built a distinguished career as a thermodynamic engineer, holding multiple U.S. patents and teaching high-temperature engineering for a time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Yet his professional accomplishments, significant as they were, never eclipsed his devotion to family.
Andrew’s greatest joy was time spent with those he loved. Winters were filled with skiing in the White Mountains; summers were spent sailing in and around Marblehead aboard Running Free. His love of the sea led Andrew and Jean, in 1993, to sail their Tartan 37 to the Caribbean in retirement. For five years they explored the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, Guadeloupe, St. Vincent and Grenada; always welcoming children, grandchildren and friends aboard. After returning from their years at sea, Andrew and Jean settled in Ft. Myers.
In his late 70s, Andrew took up tennis and quickly became an avid player. He spoke often and fondly of his “tennis buddies,” whose friendship and encouragement over the years kept him on the court until the remarkable age of 96.
Throughout his life, Andrew remained intellectually curious. He was an avid stamp collector and the author of his memoir, “Recollections,” in which he recorded the extraordinary story of his life.
He will be remembered as brilliant and resilient; a man who listened carefully, advised thoughtfully, taught generously and loved deeply. Above all, Andrew was a devoted husband. For the past 13 years, after Jean suffered a traumatic brain injury, he cared for her with unwavering tenderness and commitment. A final and profound expression of the vows he made to her more than seven decades earlier.
Andrew is survived by his beloved wife, Jean; their children: Anusia (John), Richard (Kathi), Elzunia (the late Bob), Marek (Elizabeth), Andrew (Stephanie) and Krysia (Bill); 17 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. A memorial mass will be held in Ft. Myers. A celebration of Andrew’s life will take place at a later date in Marblehead.
