The Reverend David Fyodor Gurniak, a former member of St. John’s for over ten years, died April 4, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Center, Live Oak, Florida with his family at his side. He was born on October 22, 1934, in Philadelphia, PA, the son of John and Anna (Kessell) Gurniak. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janet V. (Grayshon) Gurniak, daughters Miriam R. Gurniak and Rachel A. Easton, son-in-law Robert Easton, and grandsons Nicholas Easton and Christopher and Jonathan Witmer. He was predeceased by an infant son, Timothy David Gurniak and son-in-law Charles Witmer.
Father Gurniak was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (physics and math) and Berkley Divinity School at Yale University. He served at the following Episcopal churches: Holy Apostles and the Mediator, Philadelphia; St. Michael’s, Litchfield (1961-1984); St. Mark’s, Evanston IL (1984-1988); and parishes in Ft Wayne, Indiana; Dayton Ohio; Ferandina Beach, FL; North Haven, CT; Middlebury, CT and Bridgewater, CT.
He was active in social justice and historic preservation issues. He helped found the Litchfield Community Services Fund and the Evanston Ecumenical Drop-in Shelter at St. Marks Church. His life-long social justice work ranged from “Clergy and Laymen Concerned about Vietnam” to acting in recent years as chaplain for the local chapter of Integrity, the Episcopal Church’s ministry to the LGBT community. He was a trained organist, having his first organist position at age sixteen. He had passions for gardening, fine cooking and classical music.
A memorial service will be held at St. Michael’s Litchfield on Saturday, June 4th, at 10am. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Michael’s Litchfield Capital Campaign, the Litchfield Community Services Fund, or the St. Mark’s Church, Evanston, IL music fund.
(As published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication from Apr. 14 to Apr. 21, 2016 – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=david-gurniak&pid=179612823#sthash.SJ18JCcN.dpuf)