We were commissioned together. Great person. Funny. 

COL Patrick Pascall

Sir,
I am so thankful to have served under your leadership. I take away with me a respected and valued relationship. Heaven has gained an intelligent, funny, compassionate, and kind human soul to be with the angels above. Thank you for your service to our nation and for being the kind of commander that cared about everyone. 
Much love and respect 🇺🇸

So sorry to learn about this.  I was Richard's XO at Benning with the then renowned LTC Kane, 2/29 Infantry.  I will always remember the great mentorship and calm under pressure.  My thoughts and prayers to his family.

So sorry for your loss.  Rich was so dedicated to the military.  

Chuck, 

I am so sorry to hear about Rich. It is evident from all the memories people have shared that he was a positive influence for so many. I had no idea what he had done with his life after high school. I appreciate his service and commitment to our country. He clearly had a great foundation of support and love from you and your parents. Please know we’re thinking about you and your family, and praying for you. Be well.

Brian

Three generations of Surowiec's great memories 💕🙏

Fort Benning what n awesome time great memories ♥️🙏

My heart is broken for the entire Surowiec Family.  Rich was a wonderful son, father and brother and he loved his family with his whole heart and soul.   He would call his mom just to say hi and to check in but most of the time I think he was calling to check up on them to make sure they were behaving themselves (lol).  I am honored to have had the opportunity to know him and happy I had the opportunity to have conversation with him on several occasions.    Rich you are deeply loved and missed by so many.  Rest In Peace Colonel Surowiec.  You have worked and served our Country tirelessly and I thank you.  
You are now one of the Lords Guardian Angels watching over those you love.
Much Love
Karen


My family Chuck Jr.  Kathy, Richard, RJ, Trinity, Blade, n Ilianna love love love them always.
We truly miss you Rich RIP🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️

Football was Rich's favorite sport 🏈❤️

FAMILY
Our loss is Heavens gain.
Gone too soon, he will be missed I was honored to call him my cousin and my friend.

I am in shock. He was a great leader. A kind man. A sweet friend. We talked about getting coffee in the new year. Rest easy strong warrior . 

 I really don't even know what to say.  Rich will always have a special place in my heart and memories.  He really  was a big part of my childhood.   Although we were miles apart anytime we were together we would pick up right where we left off.  A lot of times I felt more like we were brothers than cousins.  The greatest years of my life were spent with Richard.  What I mean by that is like I tell my own children life is hard responsibility sucks.  It was great to be young wild and free.  Richard encompasses that for me.  Because of both of our struggles at the same time here later in life we were connecting again and I was looking forward to many enjoyable times together.  It saddens me beyond belief I don't know that I will ever recover from what has occurred.  I cannot begin to imagine how it has affected his mom my aunt and my Uncle Chuck.  Not to mention that he was very close with his brother.  Richard was a giving soul made you happy just to be around him.  I love you brother and will never forget.   


Rich you will truly be missed. I can remember as you visited or we visited you.  Always wanted to play Army.  Alan and you would dress up and play in back yard for hours. Then you made a career out of it and serve our country WELL for 30 years. Truly a GREAT  LOSS to everyone  who knew you.  Love Always missing you.  Uncle Joe and Aunt Cynthia  ❤

The last time I spoke to Colonel Suroweic, I was sitting with my mom while she was undergoing chemo. We had spoken on a few occasions after he returned from Iraq but never on such a somber note. I came back to be with my mom for her last days. His kind words and solace helped me through this difficult time. 	
	
I remember his love for Jean Claude Van Damme movies.  His love of practical jokes. He brought levity and humor to an otherwise seemingly endless deployment. 	
	
He loved his parents and spoke of them often and loved his son and worried about him during this deployment. 
	
He always said he wanted to end up someplace warm away from those New York winters. 
	
He gave up his bunk for me once when we travelled to another base.  When I protested, he said I was part of the team. I continued to insist when one of my teammates said, “that’s what leaders do.”  	
	
He taught me to make coffee from a MRE packet which seems like the most infinitesimally inconsequential action but when missing the comforts of home, meant the world.  	
They say a measure of a man is a man with integrity and who lives his life in service to others. It seems this very definition was written with him in mind. A true gentleman at every turn, a kind soul and devoted friend. 	
	
We lost touch and I tried for years to find him and thank him. I always thought there would be more time. He never knew the impact he had on me and how appreciative I was of his friendship.	
	
I am happy to see he ended up somewhere warm, to see his son grew up to be the epitome of what would make a father proud and that he was able to stay close to his parents. I am also joyful that he excelled in his career as the service meant so much to him. 	
	
I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to his family. He once told me I would see my mom again and I offer you these words to give you solace.  I thank you for raising an exemplary man and hope one day to meet up with him again and say thank you. 	

Family get together.  Rich was so happy to see everyone it had been a long time. ❤️❤️

Our son Rich had a special bond with Marie as did Chuck n I.   Missing you both❤️❤️🙏🙏
Love you forever 💕

Chuck and Kay. You have our deepest sympathy and you are in our thoughts and prayers. We know the sadness that you are feeling with the loss of your son. We lost Tyler just one year ago and our hearts are forever changed. We can only say, try to remember all the good times, and that he will always be with you .May your memories and God's love give you strength and comfort at this time of sadness. He has journeyed far to a kinder, gentler place.

Rich you left us far to soon!!
God Speed my friend


I am truly saddened by Rich's passing.  Although a little younger than him, I remember Rich being such a nice person and fun to hang out with.  Football was what brought us together.  My father coached many years, my brother played, and I was one of the cheerleaders since 3rd grade.  My condolences to Mr. & Mrs. Surowiec and his son Richard Joseph, Jr. and the rest of the family.   God Speed Rich, thank you for your service to this country and always being a friend to all.

Chuck and Kay:  We didn’t know Rich, but we’ve gotten to know the two of you and really value our friendship.  Losing a son really hits home.  You have our deepest, heartfelt sympathy and we just support you with our thoughts and prayers. 
      Hugs,  Barb and Rich

I wish I could have known you better since we were cousins and I'm so sorry that won't happen now. I want to thank you for your 30 years of service to our county. My deepest condolences to your family and friends. 

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss.
As a mother who also lost her son, I know the grief you are feeling right now.
Grief is love with no place to go.

I can truly say that thinking back to what a fine human being  you were fortunate enough to raise and know the joys of sharing  your life with will help you find that place to tuck that pain and love in a place where you can visit it with pride and gratitude that God put him in your life for a time.   Sandi Speers

We would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and expressions of love.
 
"NO FLOWERS, PLEASE"

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation (the donation link is included in the main body of the Richard's Obituary.

Rich and I became very close during my time at BOLC in Ft. Lee, Virginia. I stayed with him many weekends and created a great bond and became great friends. He brought me down to see him whenever I wanted and offered for me to see as long as I wanted. He helped me through many trying times and I will be forever grateful for the time I got to spend with him. I will miss him dearly. 

My brother and Rich were ‘roommates’ as Rich would describe it, but ones who never lived together.  They met in Georgia at their apartment building. My brother loved to cook and their friendship was brought together over home cooked meals and developed over their common interests and experiences.  During covid when my brother was living in Oregon they would get on the phone for hours and talk while each cooking or they would start a movie at the same time so they could banter back and forth while watching the same thing. Oregon was on covid lockdown even longer than most of the country and I was worried about the isolation my brother felt so learning about their continued (interactive) friendship brought me a lot of comfort.  When my brother was having health issues Rich was the first to call to see how a doctor’s appointment went. When my brother passed away Rich took it upon himself to reach out to me regularly and I felt his care as if he were another big brother. Rich was authentic and caring with words and actions and I am grateful I was able to get to know him.  I can’t help but think that he and Eric are still roommates in another place sharing laughter, joy and perhaps some good food. Big hugs to his family and friends. He was a great man. 

Please accept my deepest sympathies for you and your family in this difficult time. I had the honor to serve with Colonel Surowiec in Iraq and knew him to be an outstanding leader and person. He taught me so much about being a professional it’s hard for me to understand what I would be without his mentorship. To this very day I routinely pass along lessons I learned from his example. 

I remember he liked to keep us on our toes with a practical joke here and there, and was absolutely serious when it came to representing our unit well. My favorite memories of him were chats when he would talk about RJ with that easy smile and laugh, occasionally checking the time on his prized Rolex. He was all happiness and pride and hope in those moments.

We reconnected a few years ago when I reached out to him for career advice. Despite years of separation he had seemingly not changed a bit. Happy to assist a fellow Soldier, he freely offered advice wherever he could. It came as no surprise that he had recently been selected for Senior Service College. And again he was all happiness and pride and hope - just like in those days a decade past.

And that’s how I will always remember him. The model of a professional Soldier, a supremely proud father, and hopeful in his next opportunity to serve. That easy smile, a helpful word, and his well-earned swagger.


I pray you find peace as you remember him. And Godspeed to Rich who passed much too soon.

I served with Rich numerous times both state side and during deployments. Rich by far is the most dynamic Leader, Warrior, Soldier and Battle Buddy I have ever had the honor to serve with!!! He will truly be missed. RIP and God speed

Brother, you will be missed. Especially the late night texting, since neither of us ever went to bed before midnight. I will miss quoting movies with you, talking sports, going to Bill Grays, and linking movie scenes. Until we meet again, please keep an eye on the twins up there for me.
Love Forever - Your Brother

In Memory of Richard Surowiec,

It is with the utmost sadness to learn of Rich's passing.  It has been many years since we had see one another, back when he would return from school to visit his Home town.  Yet I would always look forward to his return so we could throw the ball and catch up.  I hadn't realized it at the time, as most of us don't in the moment, but he had instilled volumes of knowledge to me with regards to technique  and strategy on the field and off.  It wasn't until years later when coaching my own Son and the local JV Pop Warner Teams here just outside of Charlotte,  NC that it truly hit home.  I had always known how much he loved the game and how hard he'd worked at perfecting his form.  He was a natural leader and had such a dynamic personality that lit up any room he entered.   Confidence and swagger came so easy for him, and he made friends everywhere he went.   I wish we hadn't lost touch.   He was a big Brother to me and he will be missed greatly!


Sincerely, 

Greg Albright 



At a young age my parents divorced and while some parents would take that opportunity to maybe not spend as much time with there’s kids my dad was not one of those people every other weekend come hell or high water no matter where he was in the country he would drive or take a flight up to see me. We would play knee hockey get garbage plates play video games watch movies that we Till that day would quote constantly. He was my hero and he thought me that with hard work you could achieve anything and everything you want! I love you dad and I will carry on your name and everything you stood for 

This was Rich's favorite family picture.
We laughed about it so many times.
Miss you so  much don't know what we will do with out you  love you forever ❤️🙏

Rich was one of my best friends. We confided in each other and were able to speak on another level. We worked as a command team at Ft Benning, as I was his Command Sergeant Major. He was a true brother whom I loved, and he will be missed dearly. Words are not available for me to describe the sorrow. I miss my friend.

Visiting with Rich and RJ in Florida during his mid tour break from Iraq in Aug 2007. Friend/Best Friend/Life Long Friend. I will miss you brother.

Since the first days of C Team football at the age of 8-9 years old Rich and I became friends. I have many great memories. I remember our trip to Jack Lambert football camp, being thrown in the pool for distance by Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. I remember both of us going to see the Top Gun movie in Webster in 1986. Rich walked out and said to me I am joining the military after that movie! Lol. I remember the day him and I were playing catch with the football in his front yard and we broke the lower window, boy was I scared to tell Mr Surowiec lol. Remember the times living with you and Steveo in East Rochester and quoting all the one liners from Tango and Cash. Rich you were a good man and the life of the party. I thank you for all the great memories. Especially the day of your wedding where I met my wife at the reception. I wouldn’t be married and have our two kids if it wasn’t for Rich. Miss you my brother! 

OBITUARIO

Richard Joseph Surowiec

31 diciembre, 1970 – 29 diciembre, 2022

Fero Funeral Home with Crematory & Memorial Gardens

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