Damascus principal dies

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE — Damascus Elementary School Principal Walter Markowski collapsed while playing in a golf tournament last Sunday afternoon, June 16. He was pronounced dead when he was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital.

Markowski, 52, well known in the area as an outstanding athlete, was participating in the Member-Guest Tournament at the Honesdale Golf Club.

When he reached the 17th hole, he collapsed. Several attempts were made there to revive him and thereafter by the Emergency Medical Team but all failed.

“We don’t know whether it was a heart attack or not,” said Thomas Jenkins, Assistant Superintendent of the Wayne Highlands School District.

Markowski served in the Wayne Highlands district for 29 years, first as a math teacher in the high school for eight years, then as assistant principal in the middle school for eight years and then as principal of the Damascus School for 13 years.

“Walt was a top wrestling referee in Northeastern Pennsylvania, both for high school and for college,” Jenkins said.

Markowski was very active in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and ran several golf tournaments for that organization. He qualified as a top amateur in the Pennsylvania Amateur Golf Tournament for several years.

The school district made counselors available to the Damascus students on Tuesday, June 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Viewing hours were Wednesday, June 19 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Hessling Funeral Home on Main Street in Honesdale.

Viewing continued on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. until the funeral Mass, which was celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Terrace Street in Honesdale.

Interment was at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kingston, PA.