Steve Szymanski, a Veteran of the Marine Corps, Was Killed in a Training Exercise in North Carolina in 2014

Steve Szymanski, a kinetic wellness teacher and boys soccer coach at Oswego East High School, is an avid roller coaster enthusiast. He tracks rides on an online website and has experienced 475 coasters across four countries.

He has provided comprehensive legal advice to commanders across a range of legal disciplines in both garrison and operational environments.

Early Life and Education

Szymanski graduated from Midland High School in 2008 and went on to earn an associate degree in criminal justice before enlisting with the Marine Corps in 2013. Tragically, Szymanski was killed during a training exercise in North Carolina in 2014.

Szymanski has written numerous academic papers on the economics of sport, served as an expert witness on valuation of soccer clubs and fraud issues pertaining to sports, and published Footballnomics: The Economics of the World’s Most Popular Game which is available in fifteen different languages.

Family, friends and Marines remembered Szymanski at Smith-Miner funeral home on West Wackerly in Midland. Many in attendance carried American flags as a mark of respect for his military service.

Professional Career

Steve Szymanski is an accomplished senior leader with extensive expertise in business development, process chemicals and electrochemical systems. Currently he serves as Director of Business Development for Proton OnSite.

He holds three Master of Laws degrees: Georgetown’s in National Security Law and Military Law from The Judge Advocate General’s School; as well as Florida State University College of Law for Juris Doctorate studies. As an advisor in garrison and operational environments he has provided legal guidance across a broad spectrum of legal fields to commanders across multiple legal specializations.

Szymanski is also an NCCP certified competition coach. For over three decades he has coached youth teams at both U18 and U21 levels for over thirty years, competing in Ontario Curling provincial playdowns and qualifiers over that time period. Since 2001 he has worked at Nel – previously serving as equity analyst within shipping as well as investor relations manager of a publicly listed oil shipping company.

Achievement and Honors

Szymanski was committed to serving his nation and was proud of being part of the military, having joined in 2013. Unfortunately, in October 2014 he died due to what authorities termed a “vehicular mishap”.

As Vice President/General Manager at Green Bay Packaging’s Arkansas Kraft Division and Pinecrest Slitting Division in Arkansas, he had more than 25 years of experience in chemical/process engineering, technical sales, operations management and general management.

Chisholm Elementary School employs 21-50 employees based out of United States and was one of his workplaces as Director. Additionally, he served on Midland County Road Commission’s Board of Directors before leaving us to pass away leaving behind a wife, sons and many others to grieve his passing.

Personal Life

Steve Szymanski spends much of his free time fishing and hunting. Additionally, he helps those in need whenever possible and always strives to please others – he and Debby have been married for over 50 years!

Szymanski oversees KIRCO’s financial, accounting and administrative operations as well as risk management, IT infrastructure and human resource functions.

Prior to this role, he worked in the Hamilton Standard Division of United Technologies as an engineer to establish sales territories and support PEM electrolyzer fuel cell technology for space and undersea applications. Additionally, he served in Buckman Laboratories’s Process Chemical Division before specializing in competition coaching with U18 and U21 curlers since 2000 as an NCCP certified competition coach.

Net Worth

Michael Szymanski worked as a federal security guard after retiring from Hamtramck Police Department, according to an Associated Press article. Unfortunately, his work was interfered with by threats sent via emails; additionally he lost his position with an agency requiring top-secret security clearance and now conducts property appraisals for insurance claims.

On Memorial Day weekend of 2020, Szymanski’s son Steven was helping him prepare his 34-foot cabin cruiser for summer boating season at their home. Michael’s lawyer Todd Flood stated that Steven became inebriated and began shouting at his father before being shot dead by him.

Judge Matthew Rumora dropped all charges in July. Szymanski remains upbeat despite his challenges; he still works out by riding his bike two to three times every week for 15 miles and lifting weights for physical conditioning.