Gregory Stanley Dudzick May 20, 1973 – January 14, 2019 Share this obituary View/Sign Guest Book Gregory Stanley Dudzick was born on Sunday, May 20, 1973 in Los Angeles, CA. He was the first and greatly anticipated child of Halina (nee Dubicka) and Joseph Dudzick. Gregory spent a year from 1975-1976 living with his maternal grandparents in Poland, so he became an international traveler with his own passport at the age of two.
Living in Poland gave Gregory the opportunity to experience a real winter and snow. He also had the opportunity to spend time with his extended family (grandparents, aunts, cousins) who all doted on him as a cute toddler. In Poland, Gregory and his grandparents would take an hours-long train trip every month for special treatments that Gregory’s mom hoped would help advance his development.
It is in Poland that Gregory first began walking. When Gregory was a little bit older, his mom would read him Polish children’s books and teach him to memorize prayers and poems in Polish so that he would develop his memory and verbal skills. Gregory’s dad would also teach him various folk and military songs in Polish.
This helped instill in Gregory a lifelong enjoyment of music and singing. Gregory remembered the prayers, poems and songs that he learned as a small child his entire life, and he took great pride in reciting them. It was very important to Gregory’s mom that he have a solid faith life, so he attended Catholic religious education classes for many years and received the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Gregory loved going to church, and he knew the Mass by heart. He enjoyed singing church hymns and especially enjoyed the Christmas season when Christmas carols were sung at church. He also loved saying his prayers in Polish when he spent time with family.
Gregory learned things intuitively. Growing up in a trilingual environment as a small child, he was able to speak Polish, English and Spanish. Later on through his exposure to people with various special needs, he learned American Sign Language.
With his knowledge of four languages, it can be said that Gregory was a polyglot. Gregory was also very adaptable. When he began to experience mobility issues with his right arm, he started using his left hand, so he adapted from being right-handed to left-handed.
Gregory enjoyed the simple things in life – which are ultimately the only things that truly matter – being with family and friends, good food (and maybe a little wine or a highball to go with it), music, singing and dancing, and enjoying a holiday or a party for whatever occasion (but birthdays were preferred). He made friends everywhere and was always the “most favorite” of a group. Gregory passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 45 on Monday, January 14, 2019.
He leaves behind his sister Theresa, his aunt Anna in Poland, numerous cousins in the USA and Poland, his housemates at the Pate Group Home, his many friends at Ability First, and many others whose lives he touched. Gregory’s happy disposition will be greatly missed by all.
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