Joseph Gurzenda

Summary

Joseph E. Gurzenda (March 24, 1937 – September 22, 2014) was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, serving from 1977 to 1980.[1]

Joseph E. Gurzenda
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 29th district
In office
1977–1980
Preceded byFrederick H. Hobbs
Succeeded byJames J. Rhoades
Personal details
Born(1937-03-24)March 24, 1937
Tresckow, Pennsylvania
DiedSeptember 22, 2014(2014-09-22) (aged 77)
McAdoo, Pennsylvania
Political partyDemocratic

Formative years and family edit

Born in Tresckow, Carbon County, Pennsylvania on March 24, 1937, Gurzenda was a son of Joseph and Margaret (Bodnar) Gurzenda. He attended the University of Delaware and King's College.[2]

He was married to Monica Mulik.[2]

Career edit

Gurzenda won his Pennsylvania State Senate seat in 1976 in an upset victory over Republican incumbent Fred Hobbs,[3] becoming only the second Democratic Party member to win this seat since 1900.

After his electoral defeat in 1980, he became a business entrepreneur, owning and operating several small retail businesses. He also worked in strip mine development. He was later appointed by then Governor Edward G. Rendell in 2004, to the State Tax Equalization Board.[2]

Death edit

Gurzenda died in McAdoo, Pennsylvania in 2014.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Cox, Harold. "Senate Members G". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  2. ^ a b c Pennsylvania General Assembly website, State Senate Biographies, retrieved March 28, 2019
  3. ^ Republican and Herald from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1976, p.1
  4. ^ "Senator Joseph E. Gurzenda". www.republicanherald.com. Retrieved April 14, 2019.