Joseph Leon Predzin

Joseph (Joe) Leon Predzin, aged 95, of Gainesville, VA passed away peacefully on July 16, 2020 after a brief illness. An only child, Joe was born on February 20, 1925 in Scranton, PA, to Polish immigrants, Joseph and Regina. After graduating high school, he entered the U.S. Army in 1944 and served in Europe until the end of World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. After the War Joe enrolled in Penn State and graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in History and Languages. He met his loving wife, Anne (Hay), while both were students at Penn State, and married in 1951. Joe was predeceased by his beloved wife Anne in 2002 after 51 years of marriage. Upon graduation, Joe began his Federal law enforcement career as a Special Agent with the FBI in 1951 and worked on several high-profile, counterintelligence cases. He later served in the Inspector General’s Office for the Department of Agriculture and finished his career as the Special Agent in Charge of Criminal Investigations and Training for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Joe retired in 1983 after 32 years of dedicated and distinguished public service. He was fluent in many languages including Polish, Russian, and German; and was also familiar with French and Spanish. Joe and Anne adopted and were devoted parents to their two children, Dave and Gail, making their home in Springfield, VA. Joe was very active in and a founding member of Grace Presbyterian Church. Joe was a deeply caring and involved husband, father and grandfather. He was an avid outdoorsman, hobbyist, collector, student of history, and enjoyed working around the house, garden and in his workshop. Joe loved sharing these passions with his children and grandchildren and was very supportive and influential in their career choices in public service. Joe is survived by: son, Dave (Karen) Predzin of Gainesville, VA; granddaughter Kelli (Bryan) Cook of Dallas, GA; daughter, Gail (David) O’Flynn of Gainesville, VA; grandchildren David (Annalice) O’Flynn of South Mills, NC and their children Aidan, Cole, and Parker; James O’Flynn of Houston, TX; and Erin O’Flynn, of Brooklyn, NY. A memorial service and celebration of Joe’s life will be held at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, VA 20110, on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 2 PM with an on-site reception to follow. Internment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions in Joseph L. Predzin’s name be made to: • Grace Presbyterian Church, 7434 Bath Street, Springfield, VA 22150 https://app.easytithe.com/app/giving/gracepresby and/or • Tunnel to Towers Foundation https://charity.gofundme.com/donate/charity/tunnel2towers/0?widget=1&

Joseph Leon Predzin

February 20, 1925 - July 16, 2020