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GREENBURGH, N.Y. Stephen D. Gurnis of Hartsdale died Aug. 31 at his home. He was 97.
He was born Sept. 19, 1914, in Maspeth, N.Y., to Stephen and Stephanie Budzynska Gurnisiewicz. His family emigrated from Poland to the U.S. through Ellis Island and he grew up in Croton Falls before moving to White Plains in 1929.
Gurnis graduated from White Plains High School in 1933 and the family name was shortened the following year. He served in the Army during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. He married Helen Santocki on April 12, 1947, and the couple moved to Hartsdale in 1953. She predeceased him on June 14, 1979.
He was employed as a parts manager for Larkin Chevrolet (later to become Soundview Chevrolet) in New Rochelle until his retirement in 1980. General Motors awarded Gurnis trips to Mexico and Hawaii in 1979 and 1980 for his volume of parts sales.
Gurnis enjoyed tennis and bowling for many years. He was an avid gardener and he enjoyed vacationing and hiking in the Catskills at Winter Clove Inn for more than 40 years with his family.
He was predeceased by a brother, Witold Gurnis, and two sisters, Mary G. Rybinsky and Henrietta G. Kalle. He is survived by a daughter, Jeanne P. Gurnis, of Hartsdale; a son, Stephen D. Gurnis; a grandson and a niece.
Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home in White Plains. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, c/o Stephen D. Gurnis, 25 Lake Wallkill Road, Sussex, NJ 07461, or to Therapy Dogs International, 88 Bartley Road, Flanders, NJ 07836.
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