ROBERT RACZYNSKI

RACZYNSKI ROBERT JOSEPH RACZYNSKI (Age 80) On the morning of May 7, 2017, Bob passed away after a courageous battle with lung cancer and leukemia. He was surrounded by family at his home in Bethesda, Maryland. Bob was born in Buffalo, New York on March 19, 1937. He was the second of the three children of Florence and John Raczynski. Bob received a Bachelors degree from Canisius College and a Masters in Sociology from Catholic University. In 1964 he married Sharon Murnighan, and together they raised four children and led a wonderful and enriching life together. Sharon was truly the love of his life and they danced together on their 50th anniversary six months before Sharon's unfortunate passing from brain cancer in 2014. As a young man, Bob worked in his parents' restaurant, the Polish Village, and through that experience Bob learned the art of hospitality, which he carried with him through his life. He became known for his generosity, warmth, goodwill towards others and overall joie de vivre. Bob was educated by the Jesuits and this influenced him to pursue a career path as a "Man for Others," evidenced by his time spent working at The Episcopal Home for Children and The Peace Corps, followed by The State Department and The World Bank where Bob was a pioneer in the field of personnel services, creating global programs to help employees manage alcohol and substance abuse, financial and family challenges and more. At 50, Bob pursued his passion for real estate and joined commercial real estate firm Smithy Braedon where he remained for 30 years through its transition to Newmark, Grubb, Knight Frank and until the day he died. Bob was also a sports enthusiast. He enjoyed playing golf and basketball with his family, surf fishing on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and participating in various family athletic competitions such as competing for "Family Champion" in ping-pong. He was an active parishioner at the Church of the Little Flower where he served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister and for years attended daily mass. Bob was a dedicated husband, father and devout Catholic, and will leave an enduring mark on all who knew him. Bob is survived by his children, Peter, Brigid (Ralph Mondora), Joseph (Sanaz Asgharzadeh) and Michael (Sanaz Raczynski); 10 grandchildren; brother, Jack Raczynski; sisters-in-law, Jackie Raczynski and Linda Smith; and brothers-in-law, Joseph Hammele, Donald Nagley, James Murnighan and Peter Smith. Bob was predeceased by his wife, Sharon Murnighan Raczynski; sister, Aurelia Malach; sisters-in-law, Patricia Hammele and Mary Ann Nagley; and brothers-in-law, Richard Murnighan and Raymond Malach. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, May 18 at the Church of the Little Flower, 5607 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at noon to celebrate his life. Memorial contributions in loving memory of Bob may be made to: Cancer Research Institute (www.cancerresearch.org).The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, May 18 at the Church of the Little Flower, 5607 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at noon to celebrate his life. Memorial contributions in loving memory of Bob may be made to: Cancer Research Institute (www.cancerresearch.org).