I was shocked at hearing of Steve’s passing. Jim Free shared the news… completely unexpected. I’ve known Steve since our days of attending NASA APPL classes dating back to the 1980’s. Even back then, it was obvious Steve was special, he had god given talent. But, he was great to hang around. Can’t remember ever having a disagreement with him.
All that said.. I’ll miss him because of the extraordinary human being he was… humble to a fault and always thinking about the Team. I pray to make half the impact he has made… Programatically, but more about how he was able to bring everyone along on the journey.
Rest in Peace my friend, my condolences to your family… no way to express his contributions in words… but clearly I think he would claim his family as his greatest achievement.
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2015, Huntsville International Airport (HSV), Glenn Hearn Boulevard Southwest, Huntsville, AL, USA
A-SIP flight delay = ordering nachos and hanging out at the bar! Andrew Hunter, Tom Cremins, Steve, Emma Lehnhardt, Ellen Stofan. They were great nachos, even better company.
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I am incredibly sad about Steve's passing. As Jurz, he was a role model and mentor for so many of us at NASA. A great leader who will be deeply missed. Especially in his position as AA, he played a critical role in establishing many of the new human exploration programs. We consider ourselves a part of his legacy.
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Christopher Moore, formerly with NASA, and his wife, Paulina, extends their deepest condolences to the Jurczyk family.
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I was saddened to hear the news of Steve's passing. Steve was a kind, thoughtful and dedicated leader. May God continue to bless the family during this time of bereavement. -Forever Wahoos, Devin
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Very sorry to hear about Steve's passing at a rather young age. I came to know Steve when he was Director of Research at LaRC and I became a Branch Head. He had a kind, engaging personality with always a smile on his face. My sincere condolences to the family.
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My deepest condolences to your entire family. Steve had a great gift of staying cool and kind under the toughest of circumstances. He was both incredibly professional and a great person. Sincerely,
Tom
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2017, NASA Langley Centennial
NASA Langley Center Directors: Dave Bowles, Steve Jurczyk, Lesa Roe, Del Freeman, Jerry Creedon and Pete Petersen
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Words just seem inadequate, but I want to express my condolences to Ann, Kim, Sarah, everyone in Jurz's extended family, and his friends. I met Jurz when I first started at NASA in 1989, and had the pleasure of knowing and working with him in a variety of capacities since then, including when he was promoted to being my supervisor, and playing in NASA volleyball, basketball, and softball leagues with him. He was a good boss, but more importantly, a good guy, and will be sorely missed.
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Very sad to hear this news. Steve treated me with respect and made me feel part of the team when I came to NASA HQ in 2019, and his great leadership as COVID descended was truly inspiring. I will always remember him with great affection. May he rest in peace, and my most heartfelt condolences to his family and all his loved ones.
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Our deepest condolences. Rafael Sanabria and Olga D. Gonzalez-Sanabria
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I was shocked to learn of your departure from this world. Our lives intersected during times of change, yet you always found a moment to engage in conversation or offer a simple nod of recognition. You were a person of genuine authenticity, a leader who led empathetically. My prayers are with all who held you dear; may they find the strength and solace they need during this challenging time.
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A mutual high school friend, Debbie, sent me word of Steve's passing when I was at my parents' house in Greenbriar on Saturday. I truly think there were cosmic reasons we received this very sad news when I was in Greenbriar. I read his beautiful obituary to my parents and sister and we were all amazed to hear about his life after we knew him.
We did not really know each other in high school at Chantilly. Steve was the "new kid from NY who was on the basketball team" and I wasn't quite in the realm of the basketball players. There were only a handful of us going to UVA the following year, so when Steve and I bumped into each other at Hechingers before school started (I was buying the ubiquitous foot locker), we both said, "You're going to UVA, right?" We discovered our dorms were close to each other, and that our parents lived down the street and around the corner from each other. Both having unusual last names, we always called each other Jurczyk and Bolbach.
There are two family lore stories about Steve: 1) Steve would just knock on the door now and then and sit down and talk to us all. Of course everyone loved him. 2) I did not have meal tickets on the weekends our first year at UVA, and had run out of money for food one weekend (probably from paying big phone bills to call a long distance boyfriend). When I bumped into Jurczyk I told him I was eating saltines because I was afraid my parents would be mad if I asked for more money before the usual date they put some in my account (they wouldn't have been). So, Steve took me right down to the The Corner for dinner.
As we went through college we bumped into each other less often. I was thrilled to sit with him, my husband, and Debbie and her husband for the whole evening of our 10th high school reunion. It was a fun night of stories and laughter.
Debbie and I haven't seen each other in almost 15 years and when she wrote me on Saturday she said we needed to see each other soon, for this sad news only makes evident that you need to visit with old friends. We are seeing each other Friday.
I am so sad for Steve's family and friends and wish you all well. Please know that even those who knew him decades ago have been thrown back in time and are mourning him too. I am so grateful he paid my family one more visit in my parents' living room as we read of his amazing life together.
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Christie and I are so sorry to hear of Steve's passing. The qualities that made him such a great person also made him a great leader. Steve made many lasting contributions to NASA and the Nation in so many ways - as an engineer, as a manager/supervisor, as a mentor, and as a leader. While he did so much for NASA, his dedication to his family was always evident as well. I am also so grateful for how personable and welcoming Steve was to Christie on the few times she was able to interact with him. He always made it clear she was an important and valued member of the NASA family. It's the "little" things like this that came so naturally to Steve and yet had such a great impact. Our deepest condolences to the entire Jurczyk family.
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I am so sorry to hear the news about Steve. I spent a few years working along side of Steve as a stroke and turn judge with Coast Guard Blue Dolphins swimming. Never even realizing that Steve was with Nasa. It was always a pleasure to see him on the pool deck. My deepest condolences to the entire Jurczyk family - he will be missed by many.
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My deepest condolences to the Jurczyk family. May God bless Stephen in eternity.
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There are no words. Steve was a good friend and colleague who left a positive impression on everyone he met. He had a great sense of humor and a welcoming presence. Definitely one of the good ones who will be greatly missed.
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I am so sorry and shocked by the death of your dear Steve. I had the pleasure of working with him at Langley Research Center throughout his career. We were in the Spaceflight Electronics Branch in the 80s and to me he will always be "the Jurz". He even borrowed my C Programmer's Guide! We recognized early in his career that he was special because he possessed both the hard and soft skills needed to accomplish great things. He had a sense of humor and was the best person to have on Red Teams for large mission proposals. A technical treasure, expert strategist, and tactful diplomat, Steve helped us all in going on to achieve our goals. The shame is that you all and Steve do not get to enjoy more time together here, and for that I am truly sorry. I send prayers of comfort for you and enduring memories.
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Jamie and I are so profoundly sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. He was such a remarkable man. We are thinking of you all during this incredibly sad time.
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