Rimantas Stirbys Obituary (1952 - 2025) - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rimantas (Ray) Stirbys was born (1952) in New Britain, Connecticut, the son and brother of immigrants from Soviet-occupied Lithuania. He graduated from RPI with a bachelor’s degree in Geology and continued his post graduate studies there in Communication and Writing. In 1977, he was recruited by Conrail in Philadelphia to work as a technical writer and eventually as a Systems Analyst, which he truly enjoyed for over 25 years. He then worked for several years with Consumer Powerline in New York. Rimantas was an avid gardener, Backgammon enthusiast, and New York Times crossword expert. Rimantas also enjoyed collecting stamps, and coins, as well as matchbooks from places he had visited. Rimantas received the highly coveted Medal of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas from the Republic of Lithuania for his important work with The Lithuanian Communications Center based at the Lithuanian Music Hall in Port Richmond, Philadelphia. This work was crucial during the fight for Lithuanian Independence. He was a passionate volunteer at the Music Hall for several years. Rimantas was a proud participant in the 1980 demonstration in front of the Soviet (now Russian) Embassy in Washington, DC at which time he and his wife and 16 others were arrested for demonstrating for Lithuanian independence without a permit. Rimantas leaves behind his wife of nearly 47 years Jurate Krokys, three children Rasa Stirbys Benefico (Len), Gintautas Stirbys (Annie), and Gaja Stirbys (Justin) and four grandchildren Alfie, Vilija, Austeja and Henry. Memorial services are planned for September 27th at St. Andrew’s Parish in Fairmount.