Obituary: Karol A. Kunysz

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Karol A. Kunysz

Karol Kunysz

Karol A. Kunysz passed away on Wednesday May 29, 2019 at the age of 91. Karol was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on March 26, 1928, the son of Helen and Paul Kunysz. Karol earned a Masters in Education, majoring in chemistry and physics. Before beginning his teaching career, he served two years in the U.S. Air Force. A chance encounter with Jacqueline Thielk at an Air Force dance in Houston sealed his fate. Karol and Jackie were married in Houston on June 28, 1952 and spent the next 67 years together.After relocating to Southern California, Karol taught chemistry and physics at Laguna Beach High School for more than 30 years. He was ahead of his time as he created an honors program using college physics and chemistry textbooks to better prepare his students for college and future careers. He was known affectionately as KK by his students and was just as often subjected to their pranks as they were to his. While at Laguna Beach HS, Karol dabbled in theatre, appearing onstage in several theatre department productions.

Upon his retirement, Karol took this penchant with him to Squaw Valley, California, where he wrote and produced small skits and performed in other plays. In addition to theatre, Karol spent many hours in his woodworking workshop where he built jewelry boxes, furniture and even a sailboat and sleigh. Karol was also an avid painter where he excelled in both lifescape and abstract pieces.

Karol was a devoted husband to his wife, Jacqueline, and a wonderful father to his children. He passed on a love of the outdoors including backpacking, camping, sailing, orchids, woodworking and books. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, their six children Kathy, Lisa, Mike, Jane, Jim, and Tom, and 11 grandchildren. He is predeceased by a son, Eric, and his brothers, Paul and Joseph, and sister, Genevieve.

Memorial services will be held Sunday, June 30, 2019 from noon to 2 p.m. PDT at Driftwood Mobile Home Park Community Center, 15621 Beach Blvd, Westminister, CA 92683.

 

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4 COMMENTS

  1. The best Physics and Chemistry instructor a high school student could have. I remember many enthusiastic lectures, sorry I was late to class. You were an inspiration to us Mr. Kunysz. Hope you found peace in Squaw Valley, “God’s country” as you called it.

  2. Thank you for trying to teach me Chemistry and Physics. I did not excel but enjoyed being one of the many students you impacted. God bless and miss you.

  3. Thank you for your memories. My dad loved teaching and he was constantly reminiscing about his years at Laguna Beach High School. He loved you all! I remember visiting his class just before he retired and saw that he treated his students the same as he treated us, his own kids! He really, really loved his job!

  4. Karol was my Chemistry professor in 74/75 and I was not much of a Chem student. He had the best sense of humor which was part humor and part education. He took the time to get to know the kid, what they were up to otherwise in school and find a way to tie that into his manner of relating to you which directly lead to learning. LBHS had some great ones then and he was certainly one of the greats. So sorry to see his passing. He is remembered fondly by this C+ student.

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