Stephen "Steve" Wolinsky

1951 - 2023

Stephen "Steve" Wolinsky, of Kingston, passed away Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Hagerstown, Md., with his family at his side.

Born in Kingston, July 4th, 1951, Steve was the son of the late Steven and Genevieve Stronoski Kotarski Wolinsky, of Pulaski Street.

Steve attended St. Hedwig's School, and Central Catholic High School, Kingston, graduating in the Class of 1969. Thereafter, he attended King's College in Wilkes-Barre, graduating in 1974 with a degree in political science and government. On June 7, 1974, Steve married Nancy Hourigan Wolinsky, daughter of Judge Robert J. Hourigan and Augusta Newell Wood Hourigan. Steve joined the Luzerne County Adult Probation and Parole Department and retired in January 2009 after 35 years of service, which included time as its chief. He also served as an overnight security guard at King's College because he was a natural night owl and enjoyed chatting with the students he watched over.

Steve loved his family, his friends, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Phillies. He was an amazing son, brother, young athlete and buddy, then uncle, husband, father and "Pops." He was known to raise a little bit of innocent hell while maintaining the legendary goodness and kindness that served as throughlines all his life. He cherished having coffee with his mom and dad every morning before work and was known to enjoy a few Miller Lites with poker games, softball teams, baseball games and Monday Night Football. He would not only "give you the shirt from his back" but he went famously farther. He would also give you the car he drove six miles expertly in reverse over a two-lane bridge to get you back home safely, or the roadside dogwood tree he just happened to find with a pal. He would build it, fix it and move it. Sure, he would have another Jell-O shot. He would dance, bear hug and talk about family happenings in as much detail as the football stats. He would coach your soccer team with an ankle broken in nine places, and "catch air" while driving you to elementary school behind the cage of a county car, just to make things interesting. He would give you the last of the many coins jingling in his pocket and, above all else, he would give boundless love to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was our rock, our strong man for all purposes, our steadfast mountain of legendary proportions and he will be endlessly missed.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Fahrney-Keedy Senior Living Community in Hagerstown, Md., for the care and attention they gave to Steve while he resided there in order to live closer to his daughter, Susan. Sue was absolutely devoted to Steve's care, and together with the staff at this facility, worked to maintain his life with dignity and strength, despite numerous health challenges in his later years.

Steve was predeceased by his wife, Nancy H. Wolinsky; parents, Steven and Genevieve Stronoski Kotarski Wolinsky; father-in-law, Judge Robert J. Hourigan; mother-in-law, Augusta Newel Wood Hourigan; sister, Rosalee Pinkoski; brother-in-law, Ronald Pinkoski; niece, Angela Pinkoski; nephew, Michael Pinkoski; sister, Janet Konieski; brother-in-law, Tony Konieski; nephew, Chris Konieski; brother-in-law, John Larkin; and grand-nephew Conall James Larkin-Perry.

Steve is survived by his children, Kristin A. W. (Neal) Martin and Susan W. (Paul) Comlish; three grandchildren, Alina Grace Comlish, Owen Peter Comlish and Thomas Stephen Martin; sister, Geraldine (John) Larkin; nieces and nephews, Stephanie Hogan and companion, Don; Ronald J. (Traycie) Pinkoski; Melissa (Jack) Healy; Rebecca Pinkoski; Tony Konieski; Scott Konieski; Carrie (Chris) Konieski-Engle; Tracy Anne (Chris) Carney; Michael (Jen) Larkin; Kim Larkin (Patrick Perry); sisters-in-law, Molly (Chuck) Malpass and Bonnie Hourigan; nephew, Charles (Melissa) Malpass; niece, Gussie (Kenji) Malpass-Horvath; several grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and many, many friends.

Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at A.J. Kopicki Funeral Home, 263 Zerby Ave., Kingston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, in St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 339 N. Maple Ave., Kingston. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton, where Steve will be laid to rest next to Nancy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions could be made to Hayden's Heart because, although it is not medically proven, Steve Wolinsky Jr.'s heart was the biggest of them all: Hayden's Heart / Hayden's House of Healing, 118 Bathhurst Ave., North Arlington, NJ 07031. https://www.haydenshouse.org/.