In Memory of

YURI "GEORGE" MACHNOWSKY

1957 - 2023

Yuri “George” Machnowsky, age 66, of Chuluota, FL passed away peacefully into our Lord’s Loving Arms on Friday August 4th, 2023.  Yuri was preceded in death by his father, Nikolas Machnowsky and his life partner of over 30 years, Mary Jane Gresko.  He was born in Brazil to Lidia Machnowsky and the late Nikolas Machnowsky.  At the young age of 7, he immigrated with his parents to the United States.  Together the family settled into the Trenton, NJ area alongside a growing Ukrainian American community. The family soon expanded to five with a daughter, Lucia Maria, and another son, Mykola.  

As Yuri grew into adulthood, he enrolled at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. While working part-time at Vizzoni’s Pharmacy, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, and soon thereafter earned a master’s degree in EE.  His early career found him working as an engineer at United States Steel in Fairless Hills, PA, but soon he began his long and fulfilling journey working as an engineer for the US Government where he created many life-long friendships and worked on some amazing projects including the JSF.

Yuri was often the life of the party, having fun, and telling stories. Prior to meeting Mary Jane or MJ (as everyone knew her), he never had a worry for someone to dance with.  He had quick feet and an even quicker mind.

As he and Mary Jane began their lives together, Yuri’s work brought him to the state of Florida where he and MJ, together with their beloved canines, created a wonderful life.  As they built their lives in Florida, Yuri who was never one to sit still with educational opportunities, enrolled in law school and obtained his JD.  It was always a goal of Yuri’s to go to law school, and when he set his mind on something, he was too stubborn for anything to get in his way.

A strong, kind, caring, and stubborn man, Yuri loved his fiancé MJ, his family, especially his nieces and nephews, his canines, and his friends.  He is survived by his mother, Lidia Machnowsky of Hamilton, NJ, his sister, Lucia Maria Machnowsky Schutz and her husband, Jay Schutz, their two sons, Kyle and Zachary Schutz, his brother, Mykola Machnowsky and his wife, Christine Machnowsky, and their three daughters and son, Julia, Helena, Mila and Nikolas Machnowsky.

Yuri, a loving fiancé, a doting son, terrific brother, caring uncle, and a wonderful man will be dearly missed.  Funeral services and interment will be held privately.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to support the families impacted by the war in Ukraine, Conquer Cancer or your local animal shelter.  Koschek and Porter Funeral Directors, 1115 Hornberger Avenue; Roebling, NJ 08554 (609) 499-0640. Condolences may be sent to www.koschekandporterfuneralhome.com