William Martin Volcjak

     William Martin Volcjak, better known as "Bill," passed away on January 14, 2024, at his residence after suffering a lengthy neurological disease. He was born on July 19, 1947, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Bill leaves behind a legacy of passion, dedication, and kindness that will be remembered by all those whose lives he touched.

Bill moved to Baltimore as a child and then to Crownsville, where he resided for several decades in the Arden on the Severn community, until moving to Ellicott City in recent years.

     Bill’s family was a source of comfort and happiness throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sophie and William Volcjak. He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 55 years, Nancy Volcjak, who stood beside him through all of life’s ups and downs; his daughter, Jeannine Schiller, and son-in-law Jonathan Schiller; and his brother, Dane Volcjak. Bill’s cherished grandchildren, Logan and Ellie Schiller, brought immense joy to his life. Bill loved watching them grow up and spending time with them. Bill is also survived by devoted friends and caregivers Sylvia Lindauer and Diane Purdie. Bill had a deep fondness for his standard schnauzer companion Gus, who he walked and socialized frequently in the community.

Bill received an Associate’s degree from Anne Arundel Community College which served as a foundation for his career in audio visual technology across multiple sectors. He made significant contributions throughout his professional life, first at the National Security Agency, where he was employed for seven years and during which time he met Nancy. He then worked for the Anne Arundel County Board of Education for 12 years, followed by 25 years at Anne Arundel Medical Center.  

Beyond his career and formal education, Bill also enjoyed studying history, world politics, and foreign languages such as German and Spanish. He was a life-long learner and appreciated discussing these topics with others. 
       Bill found joy in various hobbies and interests. He was an avid runner and participated in multiple road races, including several Bay Bridge runs and Marine Corps marathons. Bill and his daughter also completed multiple Annapolis 10-mile runs together over the years. He had a deep appreciation for the outdoors and could often be found backpacking, camping, biking, cross-country skiing, sailing, or riding his ATV. He built his own wooden kayak and enjoyed using it on the water near Arden. 

Bill also found pleasure in getting out to the mountains of his home state and spending time at his cabin in Clearville, PA, near Rocky Gap State Park. His love of mountains also extended to several locations he visited such as Colorado, Lake Lucerne, Banff, and the Black Forest range of Germany. 

William Martin Volcjak will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his work, love for his family and for the outdoors, and the warmth he brought to the lives of those around him. His memory will forever live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him. May he rest in peace.

     A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s honor to the SPCA (Protect Animals | Give a Gift – The Humane Society of the United States), West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department (https://www.wfvfd.org/public/form/donate.cfm), or CurePSP (Make A Gift - CurePSP (convio.net)).