Retired Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) John Joseph Przybylski, 77, passed away on September 21, 2020 after a courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born in Baltimore, MD on September 25, 1942. John went on to graduate from Loyola High School, and then Loyola College in Maryland in 1964. LTC Przybylski retired after serving 28 years in the US Army, including two combat tours in Vietnam (1966-1967, 1968-1969). He was extremely proud to command Cobra Company, 2 ^nd battalion, 501 ^st Airborne Infantry of the 101 ^st Airborne Division, and of his company's involvement in the assault on Hamburger Hill in May 1969. He was a decorated combat veteran, receiving the Bronze Star medal with "V" Device and three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star, Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Additional Awards include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Achievement Medal. His military education included Airborne School, Jungle Warfare School, Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and Command & General Staff College. LTC Przybylski was also a member of the Order of St. Maurice.

John's life centered around service both to his family and to his communities. At Loyola College, Baltimore, MD he was the ROTC Cadet Commander and Drill Team Commander. During his time at Lafayette College, Easton, PA as a ROTC Instructor, he was inducted into Alpha Chi Rho fraternity by his ROTC students. He served as Pack Master of Pack 1 Cub Scouts, Heidelberg, Germany (3 years) and then Assistant Troop Leader, Troop 29, Heidelberg, Germany. In addition, he was a Boy Scouts of America member of the Order of the Arrow and Wood Badge trained leader. He created the Heidelberg Historic Trail activity and patch. For 2 summers he led guest troops from many countries on the six-mile hike through Heidelberg, Germany, explaining each historic site along the way. Also, while stationed in Germany he served as assistant coach with the Canadian/American Youth Ice Hockey Team, Heidelberg, Germany. A talented singer, he sang in the professional production of Sigmund Romberg's operetta "The Student Prince" at the Heidelberg Castle for 2 summers. John initiated, organized, and participated in reenactments of "The Living Last Supper" at Fort Meade Chapel-Fort Meade, MD, and Mark Twain Village Chapel-Heidelberg, Germany. During his time here on the Peninsula he, with a neighbor, organized and led a rifle team for interested high school students in York County. John also served as a Range Safety Officer at Lafayette Gun Club for many years. While a member of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church he was a choir member, he led E.Y.O.C. (Episcopal Youth of the Church) for 2 years, he was a  member of the Vestry, he led the Bag Lunch Ministry at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Newport News for several years, he was active on the St. Andrews Habitat for Humanity Team, and started the turkey 500 sandwich ministry. Later, after becoming a member of Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, Yorktown, VA, John served as an usher, and collected and delivered clothing and magazines for the VA Hospital in Hampton, VA. After retirement, he started a program of distributing American flags and teaching flag etiquette to children in the neighborhood.

He was a Life Member of the following organizations; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 824, Post Chaplain, Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 13, The Military Order of the World Wars (awarded the Medal of Saint Maurice), Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion, 101st Airborne Division Association, Combat Infantrymen's Association, and Military Officers Association of America.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Bertha Przybylski. Survivors include his wife of 50 years Katherine (Kitty) Przybylski who he married on January 6, 1970 in Pebble Beach, California; son, John Przybylski (Erin and granddaughters Hannah and Caroline); daughter, Katherine Gibson (Chris and grandchildren Mary Katherine, Curtis, and Thomas); son, Robert Przybylski; daughter, Sarah Przybylski; daughter, Angela Brotherton (grandsons Thomas and Andrew); siblings, Sister Mary Francis CSFN, Joan Mathieson, Linda Lane, and Michael Pryor.

The family will receive friends at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, Hampton VA on Saturday, September 26 from 5:30-7PM. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, September 30 at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Yorktown, VA at 5PM. Interment with full military honors will follow at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

The memorial service will be live streamed, and the link can be found at https://kirkwoodpcusa.org/.

In lieu of flowers donations in John's memory may be made to the "Gary Sinise Foundation".