Andrejczak, Eugene Raymond

Dr. Eugene Raymond Andrejczak, who helped pioneer the psychology program for children with learning disabilities in the Montgomery County Public School system, died February 6, 2011, at his home in Smith Mountain Lake, Va., where he and his beloved wife, Mary Liz retired in October 2003. He was 76. Gene was born December 30, 1934, and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich., the oldest of three children and son of a Polish-born railroad worker. Growing up, he attended catholic schools and entered the seminary in 1948. He spent nine years training to be a priest, studying for two years at University of Montreal. He left the seminary in 1957. After earning an undergraduate degree in psychology from Marquette University, Gene moved to Washington, D.C. in 1960, to pursue his doctoral studies at Catholic University. In 1964, he began his 37-year career as a psychologist in the Montgomery County Public School system. In his many years working in psychology, Gene said working with autistic students was his most satisfying and rewarding work. Gene was twice named president of the Maryland School Psychologist Association. He also had a limited private practice and worked with prisoners at the Lorton Reformatory. Gene earned his Ph. D in clinical psychology from Catholic University in 1972. Before he and Mary Liz built their lake-front dream home in Virginia, Gene raised his family in Rockville, Md., where he coached select-league soccer for more than a decade and had a small collection of 1970’s Rovers, a British car. In retirement, he volunteered at the Smith Mountain Lake visitor center and helped shuttle people to doctor’s appointments through the Bedford Ride program. He also had been pursuing the launch of a street ministry program with a local church. Gene is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Liz; his sister, Dolores; and one grandson, Timothy P. McCormick. He is survived by his daughter, Catherine L. McCormick, of Centreville, Va.; and two grandchildren, Kelly E. and Erin P. McCormick; his son, Matthew A. Andrejczak, of San Francisco; one sister, Lorraine Pokora and four nieces, all of Grand Rapids, Mich.; sister-in-law, Janice Willard Woods and nephew, Tony Woods, both of Greensboro, N.C. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to MCPS Education Foundation/Autism Program, 850 Hungerford Drive, Room 149 Rockville, MD 20850. Please have checks say “in memory of Eugene Andrejczak”. A memorial service will be conducted at the residence, 1062 Lake Estates Drive, Huddleston, 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, 2011. Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford, 540-586-3443, is assisting the family.