OFFICER ANDREW KHOURY KUREMSKY

KUREMSKY OFFICER ANDREW KHOURY
Officer Andrew Khoury Kuremsky, of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Police Department, died suddenly and tragically on August 11, 2016, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He was 25. He is survived and lovingly remembered by his mother, K. Jean ("Miss Jean") Ahwesh of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; his father, Lawrence J. Kuremsky (wife, Linda) of Greensburg, Pennsylvania; and brother, Connor A. Kuremsky of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Ahwesh/Kuremsky family resided in Franklin Park, PA (Wexford) for close to 30 years. Andrew is also survived by great-aunts, Ruth and May Ahwesh of McMurray, Pennsylvania; and many aunts and uncles, Kevin and Kathy Kuremsky of White Oak, Pennsylvania, Michael and Carol Ahwesh of Brandon, Florida, Mary Beth and Frank Borroni of College Station, Texas, Eileen and Frank Fabert of Conway, Pennsylvania, Elaine and John Frank of Springfield, Virginia, Donna Kuremsky of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Sally Russell of Phoenix, Arizona; as well as 13 cousins. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Mageed and Jane Ahwesh and Alexander and Helen Kuremsky. Prior to graduating from Penn State University in 2013 with a degree in criminal justice, where he was consistently on the Dean's List, Andrew started the 18-month admissions process to gain acceptance into the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy. In March 2014, after a very thorough vetting process, Andrew was admitted and entered the academy and in October 2014, he graduated at the top of his class and proudly took a position as a police officer with the Fair Oaks District Station of the Fairfax County Police Department. He loved his work and the people he served. In October 2015, Andrew was nominated by his superiors to be honored by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and the Fairfax Board of Supervisors to receive the Award for Valor. This is one of the highest awards bestowed upon members of the public safety community for their heroic and extraordinary acts of courage and resourcefulness acting above and beyond the line of duty. It was Andrew's act of courage and determination that resulted in helping people to escape to safety from a smoke-filled building. Knowing that the suspect was apprehended, he helped to locate the fire and assisted in extinguishing the fire that could have caused harm to many of the occupants. Andrew grew up in Wexford, Pennsylvania, with a love for family, tools and equipment. He created a snowplow from various toys and household items when he was four years old. Uncle Kevin taught Andrew electrical wiring, and he rewired eight dimmer switches at age 12. In 2004, at age 14, Andrew served as the best man for Uncle Kevin and Aunt Kathy's wedding. His wedding toast was sweet, mature and pithy. One that family and friends will remember for a long time…When Andrew earned money, he bought tools, not toys. At age ten, he founded his own lawn care and snow removal business, which he formed as an LLC, employing many friends as part-time workers. Andrew loved to work, he thought work was play. As Andrew grew older, his dreams and accomplishments grew bigger. He joined the Cub Scouts, where his first Pinewood Derby racecar, which he built with power tools at age eight, won first place. In 2008, Andrew became a member of the North Allegheny TV Leadership Team. He graduated from North Allegheny High School in 2009. Andrew also continued in scouting. February 16, 2009, was Andrew's Eagle Scout Court of Honor to recognize and honor him for the achievement of attaining the highest rank in scouting. Andrew planned, supervised and implemented an Eagle Scout project that involved removing a dilapidated flagstone patio in a teaching area of North Park and replacing it with a poured concrete patio. According to Scout Master Glenn Sinko, "It was - and is - the most involved and largest Eagle Scout projects in the history of his Boy Scout troop." Andrew bought his 2004 Chevrolet Silverado truck at the age of 17. He was disappointed that the loan papers had to be issued in the name of his father. He made every payment himself, out of money earned from various businesses. He owned that truck at his death, having lovingly maintained it for years. Andrew worked summers at Kennywood Park for several years. His expertise was inspecting the rides that were the tallest, including the Pitfall, which was 251 feet high. He also worked on the Skycoaster, which is 200 feet high, the BlackWidow and the Aero 360. In the winter, he helped take apart rides, make repairs and put them back together. Andrew was a devoted member of the Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Company since age 14. He also worked at the Franklin Park Parks Department for four summers, where he enjoyed using the Parks Department's equipment. Andrew was an excellent auto mechanic, having taught himself through technical manuals, online sources, and trial and error. He had just finished major repairs on his 2005 Chevrolet Maxx, which he then "sold" to his brother for $1, so that Connor could have a vehicle for graduate school. Andrew was generous with his time, skill and resources. He performed auto work for others, helped friends move, etc. - and loved doing so. Andrew bought his own home on three acres in Catlett, Virginia, at age 24. The house required fixing up and was, therefore, perfect for him. He had begun numerous improvements and repairs. Andrew also spent time as a volunteer in Catlett and Fauquier County with the Law Enforcement Explorers Club, mentoring high school students who had an interest in law enforcement. Andrew had a comfortable way with people. He made friends easily and was a good friend to many. He knew his dry cleaner, auto parts supplier, gas station owner and restaurant server on a first-name basis. Because of Andrew's values of service above self, faith, family and hope, he made a difference everywhere he went, personally and professionally. He touched many people along the way, and all will sorely miss him. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor and in memory of Andrew's life to the Andrew K. Kuremsky Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, where an endowed donor-advised fund has been established. Please send all tax-deductible donations to: The Pittsburgh Foundation, c/o Lindsay Aroesty, Five PPG Place, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, aroestyl@pghfdn.org, 412-394-2606 Office. Donations can also be made online at The Pittsburgh Foundation at: https://community.pittsburgh foundation.org/sslpage.aspx? pid=480. Enter the fund name as the Andrew K. Kuremsky Fund. The Pittsburgh Foundation will issue all tax receipts and acknowledgement letters to you personally. For additional information or help with this process, please contact Lindsay Aroesty at the above. Memorial services celebrating Andrew's remarkable life and his many contributions to family, friends and community members will be held as follows: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 (Northern Virginia), Service at 10:00 a.m., Expectation Church, 4601 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, Phone: 703-631-1112, Web: www.expectation. church. Reception following the service, Fairfax County Police Association, 5625 Revercomb Court, Fairfax, VA 22030, www.thefcpa.org/ Saturday, September 24, 2016, (Pittsburgh, PA), Visitation at 9:00 a.m. Service at 10:00 a.m. Reception following the service, Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, 8800 Peebles Road, Allison Park, PA 15101. www.memorialparkchurch.org