Gary Lewis Jurysta's Obituary
Gary Lewis Jurysta
artist, jazz enthusiast, educator, colleague and friend to so many, passed away at home on March 26, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Gary was the beloved husband of 37 years to June Edwards and a devoted father to Clyde Jurysta. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Myrtle and Lewis Jurysta, and by sisters Joyce Rich and Judy Isaac. Gary is survived by two children from a previous marriage Denise Copeland and Bradley Martzo, sisters Dolly Fetterman, Marie Hudek, Helen Jurysta, and Debbie Moore, and by many nieces, nephews and other relatives. He is laid to rest at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, 301 Curry Hollow Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. Donations in his name can be made to the Animal Rescue League or the Sierra Club Foundation.
Gary was born on August 17, 1937 in Lewisburg and grew up in Butler, PA. In 1955 he graduated from Butler Area High School and then served four years in the US Navy. He earned a degree in art education from Edinboro State University, a master’s degree in art education at the University of Pittsburgh, and an MFA in Painting from Brooklyn College in New York City. He spent many happy years in Penn Yan and New York City, NY, and was a vital part of the art world in Pittsburgh, PA for the last 20 years.
Gary had a long and prolific career as a fine artist and educator, and his work has been widely exhibited and collected. In 2013 he received Pittsburgh’s Master Visual Artist Award, and in 2019 the Southern Allegheny Museum of Art in Altoona, PA held a 50-year retrospective of his work. Gary’s artwork can be viewed at GaryJurystaArt.com.
“The act of painting, for me, isn’t so much about achieving something predictable but rather is an attempt at finding out what might happen when I set in motion a process driven by curiosity. I am forever hopeful that something totally new will be discovered. The results sometimes are truly marvelous and always informative, setting up a response for the next attempt.”
Gary was known for his talent, intellect, kindness and generosity. He will be forever missed.
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