Sylvester C. Suda, age 90, died on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at his home. Sylvester was born on the family farm in Veseleyville, North Dakota on November 21, 1933, and was the second son of the late Wences and Leocadia (Spale) Suda.
Syl started working at 14. He volunteered for the US army during the Korean War at age 18. He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany as a possible interpreter for his ability to speak Czech, his first language. With support of the GI bill, he went on to get his GED, then BS and MS degrees in applied mathematics at University of North Dakota, and North Dakota State University respectively. He has done advanced studies in applied statistics and physics.
Sylvester enjoyed a very accomplished career as a Nuclear Materials Safeguards Scientist with the Brookhaven National Laboratory Department of Advanced Technology. There he developed the technology and analysis methods that became a safeguards standard for both the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency, in measuring and tracking nuclear materials. He was involved in many industry organizations, including the Institute of Nuclear Material Management (INMM) and as a Senior Officer for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where he worked for 3 years in Vienna, Austria.
His career spirited him across the US, and to many countries, including Japan and Italy. As a consultant, he continued his extensive travels to Russian nuclear sites during the era of Glasnost.
Sylvester was married to the love of his life, Rullie Ann (Aurelia) Suda, for 69 years. They met at a dance when she was 15 and he was 18. She was his partner, anchor, soul mate and inspiration. He spent much of his life traveling the globe with her, savoring the food, drink, history and art of all cultures.
Sylvester served on the council for the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, was an extraordinary minister at St Mark’s Roman Catholic Church in Shoreham, NY, and was a lifelong registered Democrat, selected to serve as a delegate in the 1972 Democratic Convention. He was a proud member of the VFW and American Foreign Legion.
Sylvester is survived by his loving wife, Rullie A. (Korynta) Suda; his wonderful children, Mark (Julie) Suda, Luke (Joan) Suda, Mary Suda, John (Linda O’Brien) Suda, Anne (Stephen) Mahoney and Jane (Derek Cheever) Suda; his adored grandchildren, Daniel (Catherine Saenz) Suda, Matthew Suda, Paul (Anneliese) Suda, Michael Suda, Adam (Savannah) Suda, Johnathan Harrison, Rachel (John Henry de Rivera) Harrison, Devon (Sam Ejnes) Mahoney, Megan Mahoney, Brendan Mahoney, Sylvia Cheever and Lillian Cheever; his great-grandchildren, Luke and Dagmara Suda and his dear siblings, Bridget Votava, Rudy Suda and Edith Korynta. In addition to his parents, Sylvester is preceded in death by his son, Matthew Suda, his granddaughter, Ruth Suda, and his brother and sister, Luke Suda and Irene Janda.
Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Sunday, July 14, 2024, from 4:00-6:00 pm at his son Luke’s home, at 1459 Division Street, Charlton, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Grace Church, at 73 Midline Road, Ballston Lake, NY.
A visitation will be held on August 12, 2024 from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at Tollefson’s Funeral Home, at 154 W 12th St, Grafton, ND, 58237.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on August 13, 2024 at 10:30 am at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Veseleyville, at 14207 63rd St NE, Grafton, ND 58237. Interment will immediately follow in St. Luke’s Catholic Cemetery, Veseleyville, ND.
Syl started working at 14. He volunteered for the US army during the Korean War at age 18. He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany as a possible interpreter for his ability to speak Czech, his first language. With support of the GI bill, he went on to get his GED, then BS and MS degrees in applied mathematics at University of North Dakota, and North Dakota State University respectively. He has done advanced studies in applied statistics and physics.
Sylvester enjoyed a very accomplished career as a Nuclear Materials Safeguards Scientist with the Brookhaven National Laboratory Department of Advanced Technology. There he developed the technology and analysis methods that became a safeguards standard for both the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency, in measuring and tracking nuclear materials. He was involved in many industry organizations, including the Institute of Nuclear Material Management (INMM) and as a Senior Officer for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where he worked for 3 years in Vienna, Austria.
His career spirited him across the US, and to many countries, including Japan and Italy. As a consultant, he continued his extensive travels to Russian nuclear sites during the era of Glasnost.
Sylvester was married to the love of his life, Rullie Ann (Aurelia) Suda, for 69 years. They met at a dance when she was 15 and he was 18. She was his partner, anchor, soul mate and inspiration. He spent much of his life traveling the globe with her, savoring the food, drink, history and art of all cultures.
Sylvester served on the council for the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, was an extraordinary minister at St Mark’s Roman Catholic Church in Shoreham, NY, and was a lifelong registered Democrat, selected to serve as a delegate in the 1972 Democratic Convention. He was a proud member of the VFW and American Foreign Legion.
Sylvester is survived by his loving wife, Rullie A. (Korynta) Suda; his wonderful children, Mark (Julie) Suda, Luke (Joan) Suda, Mary Suda, John (Linda O’Brien) Suda, Anne (Stephen) Mahoney and Jane (Derek Cheever) Suda; his adored grandchildren, Daniel (Catherine Saenz) Suda, Matthew Suda, Paul (Anneliese) Suda, Michael Suda, Adam (Savannah) Suda, Johnathan Harrison, Rachel (John Henry de Rivera) Harrison, Devon (Sam Ejnes) Mahoney, Megan Mahoney, Brendan Mahoney, Sylvia Cheever and Lillian Cheever; his great-grandchildren, Luke and Dagmara Suda and his dear siblings, Bridget Votava, Rudy Suda and Edith Korynta. In addition to his parents, Sylvester is preceded in death by his son, Matthew Suda, his granddaughter, Ruth Suda, and his brother and sister, Luke Suda and Irene Janda.
Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Sunday, July 14, 2024, from 4:00-6:00 pm at his son Luke’s home, at 1459 Division Street, Charlton, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Grace Church, at 73 Midline Road, Ballston Lake, NY.
A visitation will be held on August 12, 2024 from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at Tollefson’s Funeral Home, at 154 W 12th St, Grafton, ND, 58237.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on August 13, 2024 at 10:30 am at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Veseleyville, at 14207 63rd St NE, Grafton, ND 58237. Interment will immediately follow in St. Luke’s Catholic Cemetery, Veseleyville, ND.