Kenneth F. Kuzenski

            Kenneth F. Kuzenski, 89, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida passed away on the evening of Thursday, July 23, 2020. A native of Allentown/Schoenersville, PA, he was preceded in death by his parents, John Jay and Ilona Tindula Kuzenski, and his loving wife, Sally T. Kuzenski as well as two siblings. Ken is survived by his children, John Kenneth Kuzenski (Nan) of Raleigh NC, Delta Kay Kuzenski of Santa Rosa Beach FL, and John C. Kuzenski (Zsuzsanna) of Apex NC. He is also survived by his two sisters, Ruth Szemborski of Atlanta GA and Nancy Purdy (Herb) of University Place WA.

            He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy (CMDR, Ret.) who proudly served in the Korean conflict and postwar aboard, in order of assignment, USS Jarvis (DD-393),  USS Robinson (DD-562) and then as the first Executive Officer aboard the then-newly-commissioned minesweeper USS Jacana (AMS/MSC-193). In 25 successive postwar years as an officer in the Naval Reserve, Kuzenski was commanding officer of units in Mobile AL, Baton Rouge LA and Lafayette LA. He was a B.A. graduate in Sociology from the University of Mississippi, and received graduate degrees in Social Work from Louisiana State University and Washington University of St. Louis.  He was a professor and Assistant Dean in the Louisiana State University School of Social Welfare (now Social Work) for 14 years, briefly serving on the faculty of Mississippi State University thereafter. He then returned to full-time practice as Director of Social Work Services at the East Louisiana State Hospital at Jackson LA until his retirement. Prior to his academic career at LSU, he directed two Alabama-sponsored programs for the treatment of alcoholism, which was one of his specializations as a psychiatric social worker.   

            To all who knew him, and particularly to his children, Ken Kuzenski was a loving, supportive and giving father with a wonderful sense of humor, a remarkable role model and a kind, empathetic and understanding man throughout his life. He was particularly fond of caring for animals of all types, and will certainly also be missed by the hummingbirds, squirrels and other creatures of nature he regularly fed, attracted, built shelters for, and often named!

             Ken Kuzenski will rest in the family plot at historic Gulf Cemetery, Santa Rosa Beach FL.  In lieu of flowers, he requested that donations be made to Gulf Cemetery (https://www.gulfcemetery.org/) or a charity of choice helping the underprivileged or needy.