Jay David Warshowsky
Jay Warshowsky was born on July 12, 1958, in Fredrick, Maryland to Mary Elizabeth Happ Warshowsky and Benjamin Warshowsky. He grew up in Fredrick and earned the honor of Eagle Scout. In high school, Jay played oboe and saxophone in marching band and was also the sound engineer for a local band. Though Jay never took piano lessons, he eventually mastered some of his favorite songs such as Pink Panther, Charlie Brown, Entertainer, and Rhapsody in Blue. Jay graduated from the University of Maryland with a mechanical engineering degree and later earned an MBA at UCF.
Jay worked at Harris for 36 years as an antenna engineer, systems engineer, business development director and senior program manager in avionics and space programs. During his career he was awarded five patents. In his final assignment, he led a large team to secure a half-billion dollar critical business win for Harris Space Systems that to this day continues a legacy of work supporting our nation.
Jay loved to travel and play golf. He enjoyed taking many golf trips with his buddies, despite their golf skills. On these trips – and all other vacations — he was navigator, analyst and historian. Jay was an avid fly fisherman and had an extensive collection of flies he invented and tied over the years. He also loved hiking, water skiing, snow skiing, and ice skating. Jay was a self-taught master wood worker who designed his own pieces with wood collected from all over the world and antique tools he refurbished. His creations include kayaks and museum quality furniture. He was an expert in the study and history of Federalist period woodworking methods.
Jay was deeply passionate about both lifelong learning and teaching. He was a Boy Scout leader who mentored many scouts as well as two high school students on their senior projects. He was also an avid reader whose taste encompassed everything from Churchill to Jane Austen. Truly, he was a Renaissance man.
At home, Jay was a devoted husband and father. Jay was married to Jamie Warshowsky for 32 years. He is the love and light of her life. He raised two children, Philip Memory Warshowsky (Annaliese Davidson) and Hannah Leigh Warshowsky PhD (Esaa Samarah); he spared no effort in instilling in them the values that he routinely exemplified. Following the passing of his father, Jay was a loving family patriarch to so many, especially to his surviving mother Mary Warshowsky and siblings Steve Warshowsky and Abby Warshowsky. He was also an important father figure and friend to many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and other family and friends. Jay died peacefully, embraced by family on July 8, 2021.
A memorial service will be held at 10am, Monday, July 12, 2021, at Brownlie-Maxwell, 1010 Palmetto Avenue, Melbourne. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Jay’s honor to Club Esteem, a charity that Jay and Jamie supported for many years – www.clubesteem.org.