Michael Andrew Furgala

Michael Andrew Furgala, “Mike,” passed away at the age of 96 at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) on March 24, 2016. Born in Breslau, Pennsylvania to Michael Furgala and Mary Safranski Furgala. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943, becoming a medical corpsman and serving aboard destroyer escort ships in the Pacific during the war, often as the only medic serving the entire crew. He married the former Frances Swiderski (who always called him Michael) in 1953. Mike retired from a 20 year Navy career and entered Federal service at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., retiring again in 1985. In retirement Michael was a Red Cross volunteer at the Andrews Air Force Base Military Hospital, eventually serving as the volunteer coordinator of that Red Cross chapter. He was an active member for 40+ years of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Clinton, Maryland as a lector and member of the church choir. Mike and Frances enjoyed many group trips as well as frequent visits with daughter Mary Ann’s family, to whom he was “Poppop.” When Frances died, Mike moved to AFRH where he made many new friends among the residents and staff over the past two years. One highlight of his time at the home was meeting Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla when they visited the home in 2015. A picture of Mike showing the Prince one of his original paintings was featured on the home’s website and in the internal newspaper. Mike commented that Camilla is a “good looking woman.” Mike was an avid photographer; accomplished self-taught artist; teller of stories and jokes; devoted husband, father, and grandfather; true gentleman; and all-around good guy. Mike is survived by daughter Mary Ann Fellows and her husband Charles R. Fellows of Clifton, VA; grandchildren C. Patrick Fellows (Lauren Martin) of Herndon, VA, Rachel Griffith (Doug) of Reston, VA, and Stephen Fellows (Linda) of Williamsburg, VA; and great-grandchildren Audrey Elizabeth Fellows, Gabrielle Elise Martin Fellows, and Max Henry Griffith. Also niece Debbie Dankanich of Philadelphia, PA; nephew James Ferkle of Yardley, PA; and numerous other nieces and nephew in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, and California. A private memorial will be held at the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Interment at Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Michael Andrew Furgala please visit our Sympathy Store.