James A. Korczynski

James A. Korczynski, 66, of New Kensington, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes on Tuesday, December 21, 2021. He was born July 29, 1955, in Natrona Heights to the late Roman J. and Emily (Napierkowski) Korczynski. Jim had been a resident of New Kensington for the past several years after residing in Broadview Heights, OH, raising his three children and working as a pharmacist.
Jim was very proud of his Polish heritage. He grew up an active participant in the Catholic Church and served as an altar boy. Jim enjoyed cooking, baking, and eating traditional Polish foods and always made sure there was opłatki for everyone at Christmas. He was especially looking forward to earning the title of “Dziadzia” (grandfather) with his first grandchild scheduled to arrive just after his passing.
Jim played baseball at Allegheny College in Meadville where he earned his undergraduate degree and then went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He was a hospital pharmacist who specialized in TPN, presented at national conventions, and was published. Jim later became interested in Home Care and then ultimately trained at Purdue University and became a nuclear pharmacist. His son, Nathan, and nephew, Michael, followed in his footsteps to become pharmacists after his mentoring.
Jim was an avid Pittsburgh sports fan who loved baseball, coaching his children’s sports teams, and collecting baseball cards/memorabilia. He idolized Bill Mazeroski and Roberto Clemente. He looked forward to traveling for his kids’ various tournaments. His favorites were the baseball tournament in Cooperstown, NY, and the Freeport International Baseball Invitational based out of Freeport, PA. His love for the game was imprinted on his sons as they played through high school.
Jim rescued/adopted many animals throughout his life and had a special place in his heart for dogs. He enjoyed going on hikes with his family and dogs in the Cleveland Metroparks as well as various excursions around New Kensington with his most recently adopted pup, Ragz. He enjoyed fishing (especially walleye charters and ice fishing on Lake Erie) and was known to have many elaborate fish tanks at home throughout his life.
To relax, Jim enjoyed gardening, talk radio, music, and family vacations to Myrtle Beach, SC. Daylilies were his favorite flowers with the roots stemming from his mother’s garden. His children will always remember him taking a transistor radio to bed with him and falling asleep with it under his pillow. During his youth, Jim played the drums as well as the piano. He loved The Beatles and discovered The Trans-Siberian Orchestra in his adulthood. He made it a tradition to take his family to the annual TSO Christmas concert.
Jim is survived by his children, Nicholas (Amanda) Korczynski, Alexis (Brian) Richards, and Nathan Korczynski; and by his siblings, Roman (Judith) Korczynski, Thomas (Rada) Korczynski, Michael (Joanne) Korczynski, and by several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his sister, Christine Korczynski. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements were handled by the Cicholski-Zidek Funeral Home, Inc., Natrona Heights. To send an online condolence please visit www.cicholski-zidekfh.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Jim may be made to Animal Friends https://www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org/donate-now/

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 12:30 p.m. in Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Natrona Heights. Burial will be in Mt. Airy Cemetery, Natrona Heights. To send an online condolence please visit www.cicholski-zidekfh.com.