Kenneth H. Gusciora, 76, passed away peacefully on October 17th, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 21st, 1947 in Boston, Massachusetts to Jennie and Henry Gusciora.
Ken was a loving father, grandfather and husband, and is survived by his wife, Toby; sons, Alexander and Christopher; grandson, Max; his brothers, Paul and Robert; and his daughter-in-law, Melissa.
Ken, or “Gus” as he was also known, grew up in the suburbs of Boston. He lived in a house designed and built by his father, Henry, on the edge of the family farm, next door to his uncle Albin. Growing up on a farm, he gained a broad knowledge of many subjects such as animal husbandry, mushrooming, hunting, fishing and camping. Following in his father’s footsteps, he also learned a number of trade skills such as plumbing, electrical, roofing and auto repair, and felt confident that he could fix almost anything. He had fond memories of repurposing an old lawnmower into a go-kart which he rode around the Gusciora property and through the trails in the woods around the farm.
After graduating from college with a degree in Engineering, Ken spent many years working as a chemical engineer. He took pride in his work and was well regarded for his contributions to the design and refinement of the hop extraction process, among many other projects. He travelled often in his line of work, both domestically and abroad, and loved to share stories of his travels with his family. After retiring, he spent several years consulting for various chemical companies.
He met his wife, Toby, in 1977 in New York City. They quickly fell in love and married in 1978. In 1980 they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they adopted their first son, Alexander, in 1983 and Toby gave birth to their second son, Christopher, the following year. The family moved to Indiana in 1988 and then to New York in 1995, where they have lived ever since.
Ken was an earnest and hard working man, who valued his connection to his family. He had a great sense of humor and loved to make everyone laugh. He took great pride in his cooking, producing a feast for every holiday, especially Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas Eve, as well as a meal for his family almost every night. He loved to tell stories about his childhood and recalled fondly his formative years on the farm. His formal training as an engineer and his upbringing made him practical and pragmatic. A firm believer in doing the right thing and helping those in need, he donated generously to several charities.
He loved gardening, a passion which yielded fresh vegetables for the dinner table every summer and which he also passed on to his children. He never missed his daily crossword puzzle and read several newspapers every day. He was opinionated and enjoyed a hearty debate.
Ken’s passing will be mourned by his friends and family. He left an unmistakable impact on everybody he met and his absence will be felt keenly by those who truly knew him. His skill, earnestness, and strength will forever be his legacy.
A funeral service will be conducted on October 21st, 1:30PM at the Fred H. McGrath & Son funeral home on 20 Cedar Street, in Bronxville, New York. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Doctors Without Borders.
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