Obituary of Raymond "Ray" Szalewicz

Raymond C. “Ray” Szalewicz, 66, of Titusville, passed away Friday afternoon January 18, 2019 at Meadville Medical Center following an extended illness.

            Ray was born on August 4, 1952 in Oil City, a son of the late Stephen and Mary Kulinski Szalewicz.

            He was a graduate of Oil City High School, class of 1970 and a graduate of Clarion University earning his degree in English.

            Ray had been employed as a reporter for the Titusville Herald from 1975 to 1981.  He then worked as a well pumper in the area for several years.  He returned to work at the Titusville Herald in 1991 authoring his weekly nature column “Second Growth”, a series on fishing and the outdoors, which had grown to over 1200 installments to the present.

            He was also vice president of Drake Printing in Titusville.

            Ray was a member of St. Titus Church; a member of the BPO Elks No. 264; and a member of the NRA.   He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and enjoyed birdwatching.

            Ray is survived by his bird watching buddy, Jane Hayes of Titusville; two daughters, Amanda Dixon and Emily Callejo; five grandchildren; a sister, Mary Margaret Salewic of Oil City; four brothers, Stephen Szalewicz and wife Meg of Sharon, CT, Thaddeus “Ted” Szalewicz and George Szalewicz, both of Saegertown, and John Szalewicz of Latrobe; and numerous nieces and nephews.

            In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Stanley Szalewicz.

            Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St. Titusville on Tuesday from 4 to 7 PM.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10 AM at St. Titus Church with Fr. Walter Packard as celebrant.

            Interment will be in St. Catharines Cemetery.

            The family asks that memorials be made to Hospice of Crawford County  406 W. Oak St. Titusville, PA 16354 or to the charity of one’s choice.