Michael Daniel Kandra

Michael Daniel Kandra , age 82, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his own home on Monday, December 1, 2014. Born in Shamokin, PA on January 12, 1932, Michael was a son of the late Michael Kandra and Jenny Novak Kandra. He spent two years at Penn State where he was a member of the NROTC and the Marching Blue Band. He was then appointed to the US Naval Academy, graduating in 1955. Michael became an officer in the USMC serving until 1960 and would later proudly serve in the USMC Reserves until 1968. After receiving his MBA from the University of Scranton, he worked as a plant manager for various manufacturing companies, including the Trane Company. Michael also served as an adjunct professor at Merrimac College in Andover, MA where he taught business. He retired to Newark in 1997. Michael met the love of his life, Lorraine Kuzo at the tender age of ten. The couple was married 57 years ago at St. Peter and Paul Ukranian Catholic Church in Mount Carmel, PA. He was a longtime member of St. Basil’s Ukranian Catholic Church in Chesapeake City, MD. An avid sports fan, Michael enjoyed cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies and in his younger years liked playing basketball, tennis and volleyball. He also gave of his time as a youth soccer and basketball coach. Michael had a deep appreciation for music and played the piano, clarinet and saxophone. In his leisure time, he enjoyed reading, vacationing at Bethany Beach and taking walks in White Clay Creek State Park. Michael will be remembered for his intellect, common sense, his willingness to teach children -either in the classroom or on the ball field or court, and most of all for his sense of humor. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, George and sisters, Jean Sanzotto and Helen Beidler. Michael is survived by his beloved wife, Lorraine Kuzo Kandra; children, Daniel Kandra (Margie) of Landenberg, PA, Judy Gorberg (Joe) of Princeton Junction, NJ, Louise Moody (David) of Vienna, VA, Karen Mudgett (David) of Burlington, CT and Michael Kandra (Kim) of Crofton, MD; 12 grandchildren; brother, Myron Kandra (Kay) of Annapolis, MD; sister-in-law, Fay Kandra of Liditz, PA; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am on Thursday morning, December 4, 2014, at the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 800 Lea Boulevard, Wilmington, DE, where a visitation will be held from 9:30 am until 11:30 am. Interment will follow at 2 pm in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market Street, Ste. 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106 or St. Basils Ukranian Catholic Church, 231 Basil Avenue, PO Box 624, Chesapeake City, MD 21915.