remembering Shawn
Shawn Derek Bialczak
Early Years
Shawn was born October 5, 1980 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the second son of Charlotte and Hank Bialczak and younger brother to Chad. Two years later, their family was completed by the birth of Shawn’s younger brother, Kyle.
Shawn grew up in Edgewood, Kentucky.The Bialczak’s were a close-knit family that enjoyed taking family vacations, festively celebrating holidays, playing sports and making music. As a child, Shawn learned how to play the accordion from his father. The family band, The Bialczak Accordion Chorus, performed at festivals throughout the region.
Teen Years
Shawn started Holmes High School right before his 13th birthday. He joined the marching band as a trumpet player. During his 4 years in band, he created many lasting friendships, spent lots of Friday nights at LaRosas's and even met and briefly dated his future wife, Katy.
During high school, Shawn excelled and was recognized for many academic achievements. By his senior year, he even ran out of math classes to take and began taking classes at Northern Kentucky University, alongside his math teacher from Holmes.
In 1997, at the age of 16, he graduated from the International Baccalaureate program at Holmes High School.
College and beyond
After high school, Shawn headed to Duke University at the age of 16. He spent two years there, studying hard and watching basketball harder. He later transferred to and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After UC, Shawn went on to spend 17 years at Ethicon Endo-Surgery, where he had already spent a few years as a co-op. Shawn always felt so fortunate to have found a job that he loved at such an early age. He truly enjoyed the nature of his work and even more- the people he got to work alongside.
In the early 2000s, Shawn and Katy were both in the wedding of mutual high school friends. After having both spent a few years apart at different colleges, they began their second romance. Shawn was attending UC and living in Clifton and Katy was still at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, but they spent all of their free time driving between the two cities. After graduation, in 2003, Shawn proposed to Katy by Mirror Lake in Eden Park.
Popular opinion was that Shawn could excel at everything he ventured to try. Nowhere was this more true than in his role as a father. Shawn had all the attributes of what makes a perfect parent. A sense of humor, flexibility, attunement, altruism, creativity... He was a patient father who was always excited about exploring and learning alongside Julia and Emily. He nurtured their independence, fostered their personal responsibility and encouraged their self-reliance.
An avid sports fan, many nights were spent watching games with friends and family, particularly during March Madness, while rooting on the Duke Blue Devils. Shawn enjoyed solving puzzles and playing family games, including games that he created.
In his 30s, he taught himself how to play the piano alongside Julia. And Emily continues the family tradition of playing the accordion, taught both by Shawn and his dad, Hank.
Above all, Shawn was a dedicated and loving father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He always put those he loved before himself. Helping in anyway he could, he made sure that those around him were taken care of by using his brilliant mind to innovate to find solutions, no matter the obstacles he was dealt.