Robert Krzysztof

Jurkiewicz

On November 4, 2026, Robert Krzysztof Jurkiewicz passed away in Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the age of 66.

Born on August 3,1960 in Częstochowa, Poland, to Czesław Jurkiewicz and Krystyna Jurkiewicz Zurek (née Dacz), Robert was a lifelong musician whose greatest passion, and perhaps his truest form of expression, was music.

An exceptionally gifted pianist and violinist from a young age, Robert spent much of his life in the spaces between the notes on a sheet of music. His musical journey took him across countries, continents, and genres. In the 1980s, he toured Europe with the renowned Polish folk ensemble Zespół Pieśni i Tańca Nowa Huta and was recognized as Europe's best country violinist at a European country music festival while performing with the Polish band Coach.

In 1993, Robert immigrated to the United States with his then-wife, Margaret (Małgorzata) Jurkiewicz Spyrka, and their children, Ilona and Norbert. He settled in the Scranton area and continued performing throughout the tri-state area with bands including Bez Atu, Happy Band, Blue Emerald Band, The Jeffrey James Band, and Dusty Vinyl. His musical adventures also took him as far as Thailand, where he performed at a world music festival alongside Todd Lavallee.

Beyond music, Robert loved history, classic Westerns (especially those starring John Wayne), and never met a bar of chocolate or block of cheese he didn't like. He also had an unmistakable sense of style, dressing for every occasion with flair.

Robert lived life to a rhythm entirely his own. Creative, unconventional, and unpredictable, his was a bohemian rhapsody of remarkable talent and complexity. Perhaps it was through music that Robert was most fully himself, and it is through music that those who knew him will remember him.

His final note has been played, but the music lives on.

Ultimately, Robert will be laid to rest in his beloved Częstochowa, Poland, where a Catholic funeral will be held and he will be buried beside his dearly loved mother.

Friends are invited to toast and celebrate Robert's life at Jack's Draft House (802 Prescott Avenue, Scranton) on Tuesday November 17th from 5:30-8:00 PM.

Rest in eternal peace, Robert.