Captain Antoni (Antek) Julian Teofil Pikuzinski

Captain Antoni (Antek) Julian Teofil Pikuzinski, 91, of Bridgton, Maine died at home, attended by his family, early Wednesday morning, August 17, 2011, as a result of advanced age and natural causes.

Captain Pikuzinski was born in Stanislawów, Poland on Nov. 9, 1919. His father was Josef J. Pikuzinski; his mother was Iza M. (Klusczewska) Pikuzinski. Antek is the oldest of four brothers. He attended the Polish Naval Academy and during the German invasion of Poland in 1939 he fought in the Polish Army. He fought in “Kleeburg’s Last Stand” in Sept. 1939 and surrendered to the Germans when his unit ran out of ammunition; he was taken as a POW. He escaped from POW camp twice and after his successful second attempt he escaped to Belgium where he remained in hiding while participating in the Belgian resistance. He was liberated from Liege, Belgium by American forces in Sept. 1944 and spent the remainder of the war as a member of the Polish contingent of the British Navy. He was awarded a medal by the Belgian government in recognition for his partici-pation in the Belgian Resistance during the war.

After completion of his commitment to the British Navy Captain Pikuzinski joined the British Merchant Marine and sailed as a deck officer and Third Mate. He immigrated to the United States in 1952. He joined the U.S. Merchant Marine Service in 1953, sailing for the Socony Mobil Oil Company as an able-bodied seaman. He worked his way up through the ranks from AB to Bosun, Third Mate, Second Mate, and First Mate; in 1984 he retired from Mobil Oil Corporation with the rank and service of Master or Ship’s Captain.

After retirement Captain Pikuzinski enjoyed traveling and exploring the U.S. with his family in his motor home. He enjoyed fishing. Up until the recent two or three years he also enjoyed maintaining his home and cutting and splitting two to four cords of firewood every year. He was always a generous, congenial and outgoing host. He enjoyed nothing more than to pre-pare and serve food and drinks for his family, friends and new acquaintances. He was always charming and attentive and with a smile and greeting to all; he enjoyed life.Captain Pikuzinski was a member of: The Polish Combatants Association; The Association of Polish ex-Prisoners of War in Germany; The Polish Naval Association.

He is survived by: his wife of 50 years, Eunice (Minchin) Pikuzinski; son Ian C. and Sheila MacLeod of Saco, Maine; son Will L. MacLeod of Bridgton Maine, son Cameron MacLeod, daughter Deirdre MacLeod and Charles R. Woodson III, of Florida, son Hugh and Jennifer MacLeod of North Carolina and daughter Eunice L. V. (Pikuzinski) Conway and Judson Conway of Butler Tennessee; grandchildren: Amanda MacLeod, Jared MacLeod, Maiglin MacLeod, Kirin Liam MacLeod, Kelhi MacLeod, Mackenzie MacLeod, Colter Conway and Cricket Conway; and great-grand-children: Aiden MacLeod, Kaelan MacLeod. He is also survived by a large extended family of nieces and nephews and their children residing in Poland.Captain Pikuzinski is predeceased by: his parents; brother Julian Pikuzinski, 1960; brother Jan Pikuzinski, 2009; and brother Wladyslav Pikuzinski, 2010.

Burial will be at sea.

Arrangements are by Independent Death Care of Maine, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland. To offer words of condolence to the family, go to www.independentdeathcare.com

A special thanks to friends and neighbors for all their kindnesses and thoughtfulness during this difficult time. Also a special thanks to the person who rescued Eunice when she was locked out.