Daniel A. Rydzewski

Daniel A. Rydzewski, 60, a resident of Norfolk, Va., passed away Monday morning, Jan. 31, 2022.

Born May 18, 1961, in Mexico City, Mexico, Dan was the son of the late Bernard and Monica Iskra Rydzewski.

Raised in Falls Church, Va., Dan was a graduate of George C. Marshall High School, Class of 1979.

Following high school, Dan attended Potomac State College, where he competed as an amateur boxer. Thereafter, Dan transferred to Virginia Tech, where he over enjoyed a very active social life and left prior to graduating. A few years later, Dan subsequently enrolled at Old Dominion University, where he fully dedicated himself to the academic life. In 1990, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. Post his undergraduate education, Dan applied to and was accepted into the country's number one ranked civil engineering graduate program at the University of California, Berkeley, where, in 1993, he was awarded a Master of Science degree in civil engineering. While at Berkeley, Dan had the good fortune to live in a special housing community called International House, where he developed many close and lifelong friendships.

Professionally, Dan developed a specialty in transportation, traffic management and related information technology systems. He was employed by some of the top national civil engineering firms, including Parsons Brinckerhoff Farradyne and URS Corporation. Early in his career, including while serving as a research professional after his graduate degree, he authored many technical papers. Dan loved southern Virginia and spent most of his career working at the City of Norfolk and the City of Virginia Beach, during which time he achieved his Professional Engineering License. Dan was passionate about, and was an expert in, enhancing our public highway systems.

Dan lived a full life as an avid outdoorsman and through a host of hobbies. Hunting, fishing, skiing and bowhunting were just few of his outdoor pursuits that consumed a lot of his leisure time. He owned a kayak, a boat and a hot tub. He drove his convertible across country with his mom when he returned to Virginia from California, stopping along the way to visit many famous sites. He liked to shop at second-hand stores and estate sales, where he picked up unexpected gifts for his family and friends.

Dan loved to cook, smoke cheese and had his own special kielbasa recipe. His passion for spicy foods led to his membership in a local chili pepper club where he developed a great fondness for habanero peppers that he grew in his own garden, along with tomatoes and zucchini squash. "Toe Dan" was happiest in life when he was cooking Thanksgiving dinner for his Berkeley friends at their annual trip to Lake Tahoe.

Dan will be remembered for his beautiful soul, which was as pure as snow is white. Dan was an extraordinarily giving person who cared more about others than himself. He was full of love. Dan had a witty personality, was devoted to his family and friends, and never would turn down anyone in need. He saw the goodness in everyone. The kingdom of heaven awaits him.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Monica Rydzewski.

Dan is survived by his three brothers, Vincent J. Rydzewski (Suzy), Virginia Beach, Va.; Philip Rydzewski (Margaret), Arlington, Va.; and Leo G. Rydzewski (Heather), McLean, Va.; his nieces and nephews, Dr. Ashley Hall (Dr. Seth Hall); Jason Rydzewski; Becket Rydzewski; Johnpaul Rydzewski; Peyton Rydzewski; and Nicholas Rydzewski; and his great-niece, Scarlett Hall. His cat, Matrix, now resides with Dan's brother, Leo, in McLean, Va.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday from Wroblewski Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in Holy Family Parish, 574 Bennett St., Luzerne, with the Rev. Jarrod Waugh, C.S.C., pastor, officiating.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Mount Olivet Roman Catholic Cemetery, Carverton section of Kingston Twp., where Dan will be buried beside his parents.

Family and Friends are invited to Dan's viewing, which will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

For additional information or to send the Rydzewski family a message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home's website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

All who cannot attend in person are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial virtually at 10:30 a.m. Saturday by logging onto the Facebook page of Wroblewski Funeral Home Inc.