Stephen P. Glinsky Jr., passed away peacefully in the early hours of Monday, July 7, 2025, at his home in Slippery Rock.
He was born as the first child of six to Mary Catherine Krochmal Glinsky and Stephen Paul Glinsky Sr. on April 2, 1933, in Akron, Ohio.
Brought up in a devout Catholic home, he enrolled in the Maryknoll Seminary in Glenn Ellyn, Ill., at the age of 18 and trained afterward in the Maryknoll Novitiate.
However, in 1956 he enlisted in the intelligence branch of the U.S. Air Force and spent four years of his service in Germany. There, he not only discovered his love for the German language and culture but also met his first wife, Karin, with whom he later had six children.
After his graduate German studies and doctorate work at Ohio State University, he accepted a position at Slippery Rock University in 1969, where he would pursue his passion for teaching as a beloved German professor in the modern language department for 30 years. Great highlights for him were his summer courses for German students in Berlin, Germany, and the organization of annual three-day German Festivals for the university.
During one of the summer courses he met his second wife, Anne. They were married for 33 years and have two children.
Stephen was a man of many interests and always engaged in his community. He was an active member of the Slippery Rock Heritage Association and loved bowling with his two teams in Slippery Rock and Grove City. Only severe illness at the age of 90 finally stopped him from participating in his favorite sport. Other fascinations of his were science fiction novels, astronomy and the nature of the universe. He hardly missed a meteor shower, no matter what time at night, and was a loyal subscriber to scientific magazines.
In his retirement, he could not give up teaching completely, and so he enthusiastically held many presentations on topics that had special appeal to him, such as the German reformer, Martin Luther, and his wife, Katharina von Bora, or the Eastern Woodland Indians.
His family will remember him as a caring, loving father and husband, always supporting the aspirations of his loved ones.
He is survived by his wife, Anne; his children, Carl, Max, Piri, Ilya, Jackie, Natasha, Marty and Stevie; his grandchildren, Austin, Zina and Ishi; his brothers, Patrick, Raymond, Gerald and Edwin; and his sister, Mary Jane.
GLINSKY - A memorial service for Stephen P. Glinsky Jr., who died Monday, July 7, 2025, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Russell Wright Alumni House, 105 Campus Drive, Slippery Rock. Shared remarks will be at 1:30 p.m., and refreshments will be provided following the memorial.
Private interment will take place at Slippery Rock Cemetery.
In memory of Stephen, please consider a donation to the Lutheran SeniorLife Foundation: lutheranseniorlife.org/donate.
Arrangements have been entrusted to SMITH FUNERAL HOME, Slippery Rock.

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Published by Butler Eagle on Jul. 12, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Stephen Glinsky

9 Entries

William Reemtsen

July 27, 2025

First, I want to offer my condolences to the Glinsky family for their loss. I was saddened to learn of Professor Glinsky's demise. Unfortunately, I came across his obituary only after his memorial service had already occurred, otherwise I most assuredly would have attended.

I became acquainted with Professor Glinsky in the fall of 1970 having enrolled in one of his courses as I had chosen German to fulfill my foreign language requirements. I remember walking into Professor Glinsky's class and laying eyes on him for the first time. There he stood, tall and straight in stature, attired in a dark gray business suit and donning a long, flowing beard. He was the perfect image of what I had imagined a German professor would look like.

I was an enthusiastic student and did well so at one point Professor Glinsky pulled me aside following one of my classes and suggested that I consider changing my major to German. I briefly gave it some consideration, but ultimately chose not to do so as my finances necessitated me completing my studies as soon as possible so I could become gainfully employed. Changing majors would have required considerably more time and money at that point. Regretfully, in retrospect, I wish I had at least pursued a minor in German.

I had a great deal of admiration and respect for Professor Glinsky and I enjoyed his classes very much. He was one of my 3 favorite professors while attending Slippery Rock State College and I will continue to have very fond memories of him. May you rest in peace Herr Doktor Glinsky!

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July 15, 2025

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Rick Druschel

July 14, 2025

My sympathies to all of Dr Glinsky´s family. Had him for quite a few classes back in the 70´s and early 80´s. My favorite professor at the Rock. Got to reconnect with him about 10 years ago when I ran into him at the Giant Eagle. Really a nice guy!!

Sonya Lenz

July 13, 2025

Sincere sympathies to Dr. Glinsky´s entire family from the Lenz family. My family lived just down the street from the Glinsky´s, back in the day, and my sisters and I grew up playing children´s games, having backyard fun and going on adventures up on the hill in the community park with all the neighborhood children, including the Glinsky kids. Our Dads both taught at the then Slippery Rock State College, now university, and our Dads both taught and spoke German..so we had many commonalties. My memories of Dr. Glinsky´s are fond ones. I found him to be a sort of quiet man, soft spoken, and when he spoke it was always with kindness and great intelligence. Later, once I was an adult, when I happened to see him at various events, he always made an effort to acknowledge me, say hello and send his greetings to my parents. Of course his kids grew up and moved away, though through Facebook I still have occasional texts with some of them. My father suffers from dementia now, but he can still recollect some things. I mentioned to him that Dr. Glinsky had recently passed and after some time he said "Steve?", and then he sat quietly, remembering. I know they were friends and though it was a different time back then, and they both kept busy with work and family, having little time to socialize, they were able to spend some time together... and I assume they had very interesting and deep discussions about international issues, something on which they both were quite knowledgeable. Dr. Glinsky will always be fondly remembered and not forgotten. Our thoughts are with the family in this time of loss and sorrow. ~Sonya Lenz

Felicitas Dobra

July 13, 2025

Dear Stephen,
Recalling wonderful memories of your visits in Germany with Anne, Max and Carl and telephone calls between America and Japan we are remembering your kindness and your special humour. We appreciate that you could cheer up people. You lived a long meaningful life. We thank you and we will never forget you.

Felicitas Dobra

July 13, 2025

Dear Stephen,
Recalling very good memories about your kindness towards Anne, Max, Carl and Anne's family and friends.
We had interesting conversations during your visits in Germany or via telephone overseas. You had a special great but silent humour. We will never forget you.