Andrew 'Andy' Szymak

Andrew "Andy' Victor Szymak of Edmond passed away at the age of 51 after a long and courageous battle with colon cancer. A public visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 P.M. on March 11, 2014 at Smith and Kernke, with a rosary service following. Mass of Christian Burial will be held March 12, 2014 at 11 A.M. at Christ the King Parish in Oklahoma City. Burial will immediately follow at Resurrection Cemetery. Andy was born in Pasadena, California on December 13, 1962. He graduated from John Marshall High School and received a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California at Irvine. He continued on to graduate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He has been a member of the Oklahoma State Bar Association since 1997. Andy was a dedicated long-time employee for the State of Oklahoma's Department of Human Services Child Support Enforcement program. He ended his career in the position of program coordinator. He also proudly served as the Oklahoma state representative and board member for national child support conference organizations such the Eastern Regional Interstate Child Support Association and the Interstate Data Exchange Consortium, which allowed him to travel across the country frequently to share his knowledge and expertise with others. Andy enjoyed travel and was a voracious reader, and aviation and history buff. An avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was known for wearing his black and yellow football jacket with matching knit hat during the winter. He loved animals and always doted on his dogs. He is remembered and cherished for his gentle unassuming nature, and his enthusiastic sense of optimism, which inspired those around him. Andy is survived by his wife, Christin; his daughter and son-in-law, Danielle and Jamie Bailey of Carrollton, Texas; his three step-children, Laurel, Louisa, and Liam Semprebon; his mother Marilyn Szymak, and sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Wes Zuchowski, all of Pasadena, California; and his niece Julie Spencer and her husband Nathaniel, of Manhattan Beach, California. Andy is also survived by his childhood best friend of over 40 years, Mark Augustyn of Sandy, Utah, the Augustyn family, as well as many other loving friends and numerous cousins hailing from the countries of England, Spain, Holland, Czech Republic, Poland, and Canada. Andy was preceded in death by his father, Victor Szymak. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Free to Live Animal Sanctuary, PO Box 5884, Edmond, OK 73083.