Emil Joseph "EJ" Dvorscak

Emil Joseph (“EJ”) Dvorscak, 86, returned to the Lord on June 17, 2022.  Born in 1936 to John and Veronica Dvorscak, EJ grew up in Hazleton, PA as the youngest of four children and graduated from Saint Gabriel’s High School.  

He went on to earn degrees from The Catholic University of America (Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, 1958) and The American University (B.S. Business Administration, 1967), and had a long career as an accountant and business manager.

He met his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth "Betty" (Maguire) Dvorscak, through the Catholic Young Adult Club (CYAC), where EJ was active in leading their Choraliers. CYAC was organized to provide Christian fellowship and promote participation in parishes through religious, social, cultural, social service, and recreational activities for single Catholics between the ages of 18 and 35. One of CYAC’s recreational activities was a play, Frontier Fantasy, where Betty Maguire – dancer and set designer – met EJ Dvorscak, show producer and director. Their wedding on June 13, 1964, at Saint James Church was officiated by Betty's brother, a Jesuit priest. It was the beginning of a life-long ministry, devoted to each other and the needs of Saint Anthony of Padua parish.

EJ was a man of service. He selflessly gave his time and talent in a variety of roles for the parish for 60 years. He was the parish sacristan, coordinated the lectors, trained altar servers, chaired the finance committee, replaced the sound system in the church, and served in many other unseen ways that improved the worship experience. EJ arrived by 6:30 a.m., seven days a week, year in and year out, for many decades, to open the church for morning prayer and prepare for the 7:00 am Mass, just one example of his love for the Church and each parishioner.

EJ loved music, reading, and gathering with his friends and the people he served. He was a catalyst for creating engagement within the parish community, leading the way for Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, the annual celebration of the Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua (which happened to coincide with his wedding anniversary) and many other gatherings, large and small. He was famous for his interactive quizzes, games and skits to help people get to know each other. Engaging with and celebrating the parish community was his heart. He will be greatly missed by his St. Anthony of Padua parish family.

EJ is preceded in death by his loving wife, Betty Dvorscak; parents, John and Veronica Dvorscak; brothers, John and wife Doris, Bernard and wife Carolyn; sister Bernardine and husband Joe Magnus, and half-sisters Mary Mokal, Irene Thompson, and Elizabeth (Betty) Kubert. He is survived by many loving nieces, nephews and cousins, including Holly Hunter, Joan Paucke, Debi Burns, Sharon Johnson, Kim Nine, Ann Salazer, Joseph Magnus, Peter Dvorscak, Mike Dvorscak, Greg Magnus, Richard Thompson, Gerald Thompson, Kathleen Hoch, Marianne Kubert, Edward Kubert, Joseph Kubert, Kathy Hoch, and other loving family. 

Visitation and the Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 27, at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church, VA. Visitation will begin at 8:30 am and Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in EJ’s memory to St. Anthony of Padua Church or to a local charity.

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