Peter Olinicenco

Peter Olinicenco, aka "Mr. Oxford" died peacefully in his sleep July 18, 2025. Born February 22, 1946 in Austria, he came to the US through Ellis Island with his parents and his sister when he was five years old. Oxford was his home for most of his life. He began working at Sea Ray Boats in 1967 and retired at the age of 45. His life was filled with adventures, traveling miles on his bike or by plane, boat or car to: Alaska, Australia, Hawaii, and many, many casinos. He'll be reunited with his mom Louisa, his dad Dimitri, his sister Maria, and his brother-in-law Dick. He is survived by his brother Chris, sister Kelly, three nieces, and three great nephews.

Funeral from Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, 39 W. Burdick, Oxford, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 11 AM with visitation starting at the funeral home at 10 AM. Interment Ridgelawn Cemetery. Visitation will also take place on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 from 3-7 PM. Memorials may be made to McLaren Hospice or the Oxford Boosters.

Special thanks to the staff at the Willows Senior Living for their care and kindness.

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Hello everyone. Thank you for being here today. We are here to celebrate Pete Olinicenco. My name is Sue, also known to Uncle Pete as Susabella, a nickname that only he and my grandma called me. Pete's story is unique. He was born in an abandoned prisoner of war camp in Austria after the war ended. My grandparents were considered stateless and didn't have a home to return to. The timeline is not clear, but to avoid their son being raised as a soldier, my grandparents had to smuggle him out in a sack. He cried, so my grandpa held the sack tighter. Due to the deprivation of oxygen, he was left with mental and emotional delays he would endure for the rest of his life.

Despite the struggles he faced, Immanuel Congregational Church in Oxford sponsored my mom Maria, my uncle Pete, my grandpa Dimitri, and my grandma Louisa to come to the United States. My uncle was five years old when he came by boat on General C. H. Muir through Ellis Island. Oxford became his home.

He played the drums for the band and graduated from Oxford High School in 1967. After graduation he began working at Sea Ray Boats. He retired at the age of 45. Other jobs he held were at Collier Lanes, and Ridgelawn Cemetery. He was a really good bowler back in the day. He became a US citizen in 1976 when Oxford turned 100 years old. He loved playing euchre and he especially loved the casinos! Although he didn't drive, he still got around. My uncle Dick tried to teach him how to drive, but that didn't work out so well. He rode his bike everywhere. He rode to Rochester from Oxford and then called a friend to pick him up and take him home.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years ago. Along with Parkinson's came hallucinations. One day he told me he didn't get any sleep because there were two women in his bed. I played along and asked if they were cute and if he got action and he said, "Hell no!" He will be remembered for his sayings,

"Same O, same O."

"What's good about it?"

"If it doesn't pay rent, you gotta kick it out." His laughter was contagious when you farted in front of him.

There are many unsung heroes that helped my uncle. Thank you to the people that gave him rides, helped him put on his bowling shoes, went on trips and cruises with him, took him out to eat, helped him in the car, helped him with his cards at euchre, even helped him in the bathroom. The biggest help came from my Aunt Kelly, caring for him until the very end. Thank you for the flowers, the food and to all that traveled and took time out of their days to pay their respects to my uncle.

Peter Olinicenco, aka "Mr. Oxford" or "Big, bad Pete" died peacefully in his sleep July 18, 2025. Born February 22, 1946 in Austria, he came to the US through Ellis Island with his parents and his sister when he was five years old. Oxford was his home for most of his life. He began working at Sea Ray Boats in 1967 and retired at the age of 45. His life was filled with adventures, traveling miles on his bike or by plane, boat or car to: the Cayman Islands, Alaska, Australia, Hawaii, Graceland and many, many casinos! He'll be reunited with his mom Louisa, his dad Dimitri, his sister Maria, and his brother-in-law Dick. He is survived by his brother Chris, sister Kelly, three nieces Kim, Sue and Carrie, three nephews Ken, Tony and Todd and three great nephews Anthony, Nathan and Gerrit. There were many friends too. Vickie, Neal, Duke and his friends from cards, Ellen, Bev, Laura just to name a few. Memorials can be made to McLaren Hospice or the Oxford Boosters.

Special thanks to the staff at the Willows Senior Living for their care and kindness.

A Korean Proverb states, "At the end of hardship comes happiness." I'd like to think that my mom Maria met my uncle Pete with cinnamon rolls, my Uncle Dick taught my uncle how to fly with his new wings, and his parents Dimitri and Louisa met him with the biggest hug.