John Cybulskis

John Cybulskis, 75, passed away peacefully at 10:35 a.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2022, while visiting family in Syracuse, New York. He is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Pamela (Berzai) of Mishawaka; his sons, Viktor (Erin) of Syracuse, New York and Nicholas (Kelly) of Traverse City, Michigan; and his granddaughter, Eleanor of Syracuse, New York. His second granddaughter is expected to arrive in Traverse City, Michigan in June. Also surviving are his two brothers, Peter (Rita) of Columbus, Ohio, and George (Lori) of Dallas, Georgia; his three sisters, Theresa Vavere of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Agatha (Tony) Vardamaskos of Oak Park, Illinois, and Mary (Charles) Telgenhof of Hudsonville, Michigan; along with many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Isabella and Viktors; sister, Anna; and brother, Vitolds.
John was born in Ansbach, Germany in 1946 and immigrated to the United States in 1949. He was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan and graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1964. He earned an undergraduate degree in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from Aquinas College (1968) in Grand Rapids, Michigan along with a masters in Secondary Education and Teaching from Indiana University (1983) in South Bend, Indiana. He began his career as a director of guidance, a teacher, and a coach at Marian High School in 1969, where he taught physics and mathematics until 1985. He taught numerous physics, mathematics, astronomy, and pre-engineering courses over the course of his twenty-seven years at Niles High School, where he also coached football and track and developed an extensive portfolio of programs in science and mathematics. After retiring in 2012, he served as an Instructor of Mathematics and Physics at Holy Cross College until 2016. During his time at Holy Cross, he doubled the number of content courses in the mathematics curriculum and created and piloted new calculus courses in the PreProfessional Major Program to interface with the GateWay Initiative at the University of Notre Dame. He was the Indiana Finalist for NASA's Teacher in Space Program (1986), served as a mentor/trainer for the Mechanical Universe High School Adaptation (MUHSA) and Comprehensive Conceptual Curriculum for Physics Education (C3P) programs, and was an active member of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).
John was the consummate teacher, coach, and mentor with a career spanning nearly five decades in education. He was beloved husband, father, grandfather, and dear friend of superb intellect and kindness who placed family and friendship above all else. His passion for nature, science, history, athletics, and adventure led him on countless travels all across the United States and throughout the world during his life. He was an avid outdoorsman, runner, stamp collector, and reader with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and deep admiration for his Latvian heritage. He touched all who interacted with him and will be deeply missed.
Visitation services for John will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday May 2 and again from 9 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3, in St. Joseph Funeral Home, 824 S. Mayflower Road, South Bend. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3, in St. Matthew Cathedral, 1701 Miami St, South Bend, IN 46613. Burial will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, South Bend.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to Catholic Relief Services at support.crs.org/donate, or the Dominican Sisters at Aquinas College at aquinas.edu/campaign/impact/fact-dominican-sisters.