Coach Raymond V. Gurzynski, 94

Raymond V. Gurzynski, 94, a longtime coach and professor emeritus at Ursinus College, died Thursday, April 22, at Brightview Senior Living in East Norriton Township.

Mr. Gurzynski, a native of Catasauqua, Pa., earned a bachelor's degree from Ursinus College, where he lettered in football, track, and baseball, and was a member of the Student Council. He then taught at Stewart Junior High School in Norristown for five years and earned a master's degree in education from Temple University.

In 1947, he returned to Ursinus as a health and physical education instructor, track and cross-country coach, and assistant football coach. In the 1950s, he was head football coach for several years.

During his more than 34 years coaching track and field, Mr. Gurzynski's teams won two Middle Atlantic Championships and had four undefeated seasons.

As an undergraduate, Mr. Gurzynski was awarded two watches while competing in events at the Penn Relays; he later coached Ursinus teams there. When he retired from coaching in 1981, he was named an honorary referee for the College Division at the Penn Relays.

Mr. Gurzynski, who retired from teaching at Ursinus in 1985, received a Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. He also received the Bruins Club Award for his support of Ursinus athletic programs and was a member of the Ursinus Hall of Fame.

For many years, Mr. Gurzynski was a sports director at summer camps in the Poconos. He was active with a Boy Scout troop in Audubon. Mr. Gurzynski and his wife, Helen Bosich Gurzynski, raised a family in Audubon and later lived in Jeffersonville. They first met at Bethlehem Steel, where he had a summer job and she was a secretary.

In addition to his wife of 67 years, Mr. Gurzynski is survived by daughters Mary Jones and Susan Griffith; a son, John; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 27, at St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church, 1260 S. Trooper Rd., Norristown. Mr. Gurzynski was a eucharistic minister at the church and a member of its Over 55 Club. Burial will be in Garden of Memories in Worcester Township.