In Memory of

Michael

W.

Storonsky

Obituary for Michael W. Storonsky

LOUDONVILLE - Michael W. Storonsky entered into eternal rest peacefully with his loving family by his side on September 16, 2022, at the age of 93. Mike was born in Rensselaer, NY on January 26, 1929, to Katherine Pushkar Storonsky and Michael Storonsky. He is predeceased by his parents, and the love of his life Pauline Felack Storonsky, to whom he was married for almost 64 years.

Mike is survived by his four children and their spouses, Michael P. and Linda Storonsky, Mary Storonsky English and Richard English, Christine and Richard Rush, and Paula and Stephen Melidones; his six grandchildren and spouses/partners Megan English Reeves and Jeremy Reeves, PhD, Michael C. Storonsky, MD, Natasha and Stephen Becker, Chad English and Roseann Pluretti English, PhD, Katherine Rush and Russell Zahralban, and Nicholas Rush; and two great-grandchildren, Parker Lynn Reeves and Stephen Michael Becker, Jr.

Mike was a devout Ukrainian Catholic, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Teacher, Principal, Travel Agent, Athlete, Coach, and Sports Official.

Mike was proud of his Ukrainian heritage as both his and his wife’s parents came from the Ukraine as teenagers prior to WWI. He was a lifelong member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Watervliet where he served as a Trustee for the Ukrainian American Citizens Club and the Pastoral Council, and as a church greeter. While serving as President of the Ukrainian Catholic Youth League in 1951, he met the love of his life, Pauline Felack who was serving as Secretary. They were married on July 24, 1955, and they were blessed with nearly 64 wonderful years together. Mike was forever grateful to Pauline for her selfless devotion to both their family and him.

Mike and Pauline were very proud of their children and grandchildren and enjoyed supporting and/or attending all their activities involving music concerts, sporting events, plays and most importantly their educations. They enjoyed spending time together in their back yard pool and taking them on vacations to NYS camp sites, Cape Cod, Canada, and on cruises.

He managed the Colonie Little League Redwood Team, on which his son played, when in 1969 they went 14-0 and won the Albany County Championship. From 1970-1974 he served as the President of the Colonie Senior Babe Ruth League. Mike organized bus trips to Yankee Stadium for double headers for the Colonie Little League, Babe Ruth, and Sr. Babe Ruth, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Capital District Umpires Association. He also served as Treasurer for the St. Pius Catholic Church Boy Scout Troop.
Mike and Pauline enjoyed bowling, bocce, playing cards, and volunteering at the Times Union Center/Pepsi Arena, and the Albany Visitors & Convention Center for various events.

Mike lived a very full life during which he touched the lives of many people. Mike’s education began at Ft. Crailo Elementary School (K-8) in Rensselaer. where he later returned to, and retired from, as Principal. He attended Van Rensselaer High School, and then went on to Champlain College and Plattsburgh State. While getting his education and for a short time afterwards, Mike was a very accomplished athlete, inducted into sports halls of fame for his athletic achievements in both high school and college. When his playing days were done due to an injury, he coached, assisted with, and maintained an interest in a wide variety of sports including working as a scout for the Dodgers.

While at Van Rensselaer High School he was a starting member of their Class C 1946 championship baseball and basketball teams. Their basketball team won the Class B League title defeating Albany High. That summer he was asked to organize and be playing manager for the Ft. Crailo Post American Legion baseball team in the Rensselaer County league where they won the championship, beating the team from Troy featuring Rick Coleman who went on to pitch for the NY Yankees. On their way to the championship, he got four hits off Elroy Face (Averill Park) who went on to play for 17 years in the Major Leagues primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates setting a Major League record of 22 consecutive victories. In 2012, he was inducted into the Rensselaer High School Hall of Fame.

While attending Plattsburgh State, he played both basketball and baseball. During his junior year, he had a single season school record batting average of .589 which still stands today. In 2000, he was inducted into the Plattsburgh State Hall of Fame. While attending college, he also played semi-pro baseball in the Champlain Valley League for three summers.

Mike then played semi-pro baseball in the Albany and Rensselaer Twilight Leagues. In 1952, he won the Rensselaer League batting title hitting .420. That same year he was runner up in the Albany Twilight League with a .368 average. A broken wrist that was misdiagnosed as a sprain ended his playing career, so he turned to officiating high school and college baseball, basketball, football, and soccer, some of which he continued until he was more than 70!

As a spectator, Mike was a fan of the Dodgers and the Yankees and was proud that he saw Babe Ruth hit a home run in an exhibition game in Albany. He also saw Mickey Mantle, Roger Marris and Joe DiMaggio do the same. On their honeymoon through New England, he took Pauline to a Red Sox game at Boston’s Fenway Park where they saw Ted Williams hit a home run.

Mike began his career as a Math and Science Teacher in the New Lebanon School District where he coached baseball, basketball, and cross country. His cross-country teams won the Sectional championships in 1955, 1956 and 1957. He then moved on to the South Colonie School District Roessleville School where he taught 5th grade. He was elected as the South Colonie Teachers Association President in 1960. In that position he negotiated free health insurance for all teachers in the School District.

He moved to the East Nassau Central School in 1961 as Principal. East Nassau merged with New Lebanon Central Schools where he remained as Principal of the New Lebanon District’s six schools until 1977. He was elected Chairman of the Rensselaer County Principals. In 1962, when the School Administrators Association of New York was formed, he was elected to serve as Chairman to represent Region 6 (Section 2 – 13 counties). While at New Lebanon, he represented the New York State Teachers Association on the NYS Professional Ethics Commission. In 1977, he returned to Ft. Crailo Elementary School where he served as Principal until his retirement in 1984.

Upon retirement from education, he became a travel agent for 34 years with Carlson Wagonlit/Albany Travel. During that time, he coordinated countless trips and cruises, including taking his family of 16 on six cruises. He and Pauline visited six continents and more than 60 countries. Mike and Pauline visited their parents’ homeland of Ukraine twice, once under communist rule, and the second time after the country achieved their independence.

He served as the Executive Secretary and Treasurer for the Eastern Board of Approved Soccer Officials for 35 years from 1960 through 1994. During that time, he assigned all High School officials and most college officials and represented soccer officials from Section 2 and NYS in negotiating contracts.

Mike continued to be active later in life attending summer stock theater, playing pinochle and bocce, attending music events while at Shaker Pointe and even being elected as co-chair to the resident council this year at Loudonville Assisted Living. Mike was a bocce captain with the Colonie Seniors and helped to start bocce at Shaker Pointe at Carondelet.

Donations in Mike’s name may be made to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Society or Aid to Ukraine at the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 2410 4th Ave. Watervliet NY 12189 or by clicking the "Donations” link at www.cerkva.com.

Relatives and friends may call at Parker Bros. Memorial Funeral Home, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet, NY on Thursday, September 22, from 4-7 PM, with Parastas at 6 PM. Funeral liturgy will be on Friday, September 23, at 10:30 AM at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 2410 4th Ave. Watervliet NY 12189. All those attending Mike’s services are asked to please wear a face mask.

The funeral liturgy will be live streamed at https://www.cerkva.com/live-streaming/