Ludek Jaroslav Strnad

Ludek "Lou" Strnad of Yarmouth died on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the South Paris Veterans Home.
Lou was born in 1943 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, the second of four children, to parents Adolf and Marie Strnad. He lived under German and then Soviet occupation until moving to Köping, Sweden with his family in 1947. After seven years in Sweden, the family moved to Toronto, Canada. In 1957, the family proudly made South Portland their home.
Lou graduated from South Portland High School in 1961 and Amherst College in 1965, with a major in mathematics and a minor in Russian – the fourth language he spoke fluently. After college, he taught mathematics at Waynflete School in Portland and, though not, yet, a U.S. citizen, he was drafted into the Army (becoming a citizen soon after) and served two years in Vietnam, receiving two Bronze Stars.
Upon discharge from the Army, he married Mary J. Archibald, his wife of 54 years. They lived in South Portland for 45 years before moving to Yarmouth in 2015. He served on the District 2 South Portland School Board for three years, as well as Chairman for one year. Lou worked for General Electric in South Portland as a systems analyst and then for Unum as a systems manager. During that time, he taught Structured Systems Analysis at Westbrook College (now UNE) and co-authored a textbook on the subject.
Lou's interests were varied. As a young man, he taught himself to play the guitar and in the 60's played at The Gate co eehouse in Portland. Over the years, he taught several friends and neighbors to play. He enjoyed skiing and fishing from his canoe, always catching and releasing. He finished the New York Times crossword every day in pen. He renovated every room in his house and moved to a new house, in part, to continue the challenge. After retiring, he made jams that might have been the best his family and friends ever tasted. He was a voracious reader and was known for his engaging sense of humor and brilliant wit.
Lou was a caring, supportive and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, son and brother. He is survived by his wife Mary and son Chris, daughter-in-law Trina, and two grandsons Markose and Mathai of Providence, RI. He leaves his sister Hana of South Portland and her partner Bob, brother Sven and sister-in-law Joann of Yardley, PA and nephew Kyle and his family. He was predeceased by his younger sister Marie Strnad.
Beware the Jabberwock, my son.
The family expresses our heartfelt gratitude to Margaret Duffek, Lou's caregiver in Yarmouth, and to the remarkable staff at the South Paris Veterans Home. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Southern Maine Boys and Girls club at https://www.bgcmaine.org/donate.