Andrij "Andy" Serhij Bushak

ANDRIJ S. BUSHAK “ANDY” age 63, passed away February 1, 2018. Beloved husband of Mary Ann (nee Gera); loving father of Nick and Lecia; dearest brother of George (Kathleen); dear uncle of Jeff (Amanda), Dana, Tommy and Elizabeth; brother-in-law of Paul Gera. U.S. Navy Veteran.

Andy was a Hall of Fame football player at Valley Forge High School in Parma, OH, and selected to the All-Scholastic Team by the Plain Dealer and Cleveland Press in 1971. He was awarded the 1971 Rockne Award and the 1972 Sports Illustrated Outstanding Athlete Award. Andy continued his football and academic pursuits at the Naval Academy, where he earned three letters and helped Navy win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy twice. The Navy defense was ranked third in the NCAA. Andy was an Honorable Mention All-American linebacker, and won the Cooke Memorial Football Award. In 2009, he was selected to the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial 50 Year All-Stadium Team as a linebacker.

Part of his five year active duty was served as a surface warfare officer aboard the USS Somers, among other duties (Pearl Harbor and San Diego). He followed his lifelong dream to play NFL football when he signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns, his hometown team, in 1981. While that stint was short-lived, he pursued other dreams with equal passion and enjoyed a successful career as a commodities trader, consultant and educator. Andy was loved by so many and an inspiration to all. His charisma and bellowing laughter lit up the room. Andy had the gift of making everyone he met feel important—whether a lifelong friend or the Starbucks barista. No matter how short his interactions, people always remembered Andy once they met him—he was larger than life. While he impacted so many friends from around the world, he was most devoted to his family, and adored his children. He was a tireless volunteer for St. Josaphat’s Church pierogi project.

Friends may call at THE KOLODIY-LAZUTA FUNERAL HOME, 5677 STATE RD., PARMA, MONDAY 5-8 P.M. PARASTAS 7 P.M.

Funeral Liturgy Tuesday, February 6 at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral at 10 a.m. (PLEASE MEET… AT CATHEDRAL). Interment private. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions in Andy’s name to The U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Athletic Excellence Fund, Annapolis, MD or St. Josaphat Cathedral.