Richard J. Kijewski

On the evening of October 20th 2025, surrounded by all of the people he loved, especially his grandkids, our Dad & Dziadzi, Richard Joseph Henry Kijewski, husband of Bernice (Skowronek) Kijewski, entered into his eternal rest in the loving arms of his Lord and Savior. Dad was born in New Haven on a cold floor on the 27th of December 1940 to Constantine "Joe" and Julianna (Skibinski) Kijewski. A lifelong resident of New Haven, he graduated from Saint Stanislaus Parochial School in 1954, Saint Mary's High School in 1958, New Haven State Teachers College/Southern Connecticut State College with a BS in Earth Science in 1962, following that up with a Master's and then a Sixth-Year degree in Secondary Science Education in the 1980's taught by the late Dr. Mel Goldstein. Dad taught general sciences for 35 years at Amity Regional Junior High School in Orange CT, retiring just before his first grandchild Johnny was a year old to become a full-time Dziadzi! Dad was an avid drummer, playing with the Al Sadowski Youth Big Band and then in the early 1960's, getting a few friends together, he created a polka band, The Crystal Bells Orchestra, which featured Cornell Bialicki on accordion, John Kaliscak on clarinet, the late Jimmy Wanat on trumpet, and Dad on drums and lead vocals. The Crystal Bells were together through 1978 and was Dad's proudest achievement as a musician. Dad then went on to play with the Ted Novak Dance Band from 1978 till they disbanded (LOL – pun intended) in the early 1980's and he retired from the band scene. He then moved on to becoming a Eucharistic Minister at St. Stan's and a cantor there, singing at Sunday Masses, weddings, and funerals. Dad and mom were awarded the Saint Joseph Medal of Appreciation for their contributions and commitment to St. Stanislaus' Parish. Dad married the love of his life, our mom, Bernice, on June 27, 1964; they had an amazing 61+ years together. Dad wore many hats: husband, father, uncle, cousin, son, but the one he cherished was Dziadzi. What made him most proud and brought him the most joy was his family; especially the grandkids: Johnny, A.J., Amber, Chrissy, and his great-grandson Zachary. Dad was always good for a corny joke, often cracking himself up in the process, singing a random song in the middle of a conversation, or bringing in great harmony when the family sang. Besides his parents, Dad was predeceased by his sister Joan (Kijewski) Ciemniewski and her husband John, nephew Robert Ciemniewski, countless cousins, uncles and aunts, especially Henry and Frances Skibinski. Along with his wife Bernice, Dad leaves his son Richard (Bridget) Kijewski, his daughter Suzanne (Anthony) DeLuca, grandsons John (Kathleen) Amendola, Alex (Grace Mandy) Amendola, granddaughters Amber DeLuca, Christine (Thomas) Kopcyk, and great-grandson Zachary Kopcyk. Family and friends are invited to go DIRECTLY to Blessed Michael McGivney Parish at St. Stanislaus Church, 9 Eld St., New Haven SATURDAY morning October 25, 2025 to celebrate A Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery. Family and friends may call FRIDAY from 4pm to 7pm at the PORTO FUNERAL HOME, 234 Foxon Rd. (Rte. 80), East Haven. If desired, donations may be made in Dad's memory to the TV Mass at the Office of Radio and Television at www.ortv.org/donate.html or to Tunnel to Towers Foundation at t2t.org.