Obituary of Jeffrey Michael Kalenka

Jeffrey Michael Kalenka, age 55, of East Williston, New York, was born into eternal life on March 17, 2021. Jeffrey was the husband and best friend of Phyllisann Polizzi Kalenka, also of East Williston, New York.

Jeffrey grew up in Bayside, New York, and was the eldest child of his parents, Richard and Gisele Kalenka, and brother to Gary and Heidi. Growing up in Bayside, Jeffrey was an active member of St. Josaphat’s Parish serving as an altar boy, lector and a member of The Holy Name Society. He was also a Boy Scout and an active leader in the organization attaining the status of Eagle Scout.

As an honor student, Jeffrey graduated The Bronx High School of Science in 1983. He chose to attend St. John’s University when he was awarded a scholarship and accepted into the Honor’s Program of St. John’s College of Arts & Sciences. He would meet his wife and lifelong friends at St. John’s University, and would return annually to campus to attend the annual “Blessing of the Couples” Mass with his wife.

Jeffrey graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. John’s University in 1987. He would continue on to New York Law School where he would graduate with a Juris Doctor degree and honors in 1990. He immediately took, and passed, the New York State and New Jersey State Bar Examinations and was admitted to the practice of law in early 1991.

Jeffrey’s career as an attorney focused on personal injury law and he was an exceptional trial attorney. He loved the strategy of trial work, had an uncanny knowledge of the law and procedures, and was a phenomenal speaker. He would also enjoy mentoring other attorneys in trial practice and would lecture on summary jury trial proceedings. He was a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Nassau County Bar Association, and a past President of the Catholic Lawyer’s Guild of Nassau County.

In his personal life, Jeffrey was a supporter of many charities including Good Counsel Homes, Inc., and other organizations focused on helping the unborn, the homeless, veterans and first responders. He was an active member of his Parish of The Church of St. Mary’s in Roslyn Harbor, New York.

Jeffrey is survived by his wife and best friend, Phyllisann Polizzi Kalenka, and his two dogs, Venezia and Bella. He is also survived by his loving parents, Richard and Gisele Kalenka, and by his beloved siblings, Gary Kalenka and Heidi Kalenka Hipolito, and dear brother-in-law, Frank Hipolito. He is further survived by his beloved father-in-law, Gerard E. Polizzi, and mother-in-law, Phyllis M. Polizzi, and by his cherished sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, MaryClaire and Vincent Cardinal and Gerard and Lynn Polizzi. He is also, and most importantly, survived by his eight nieces and nephews, Marissa Cardinal, Stephanie Cardinal, Christina Cardinal, Michael Cardinal, Sophia Polizzi, Gabriella Polizzi, Alexander Hipolito and Paige Hipolito, of whom he was most proud. He is finally also survived by his goddaughter, Mary Helen Baudinet, and was honored to serve as such for her as well as for Christina Cardinal, Gabriella Polizzi and Alexander Hipolito.

Donations may be made in memory of Jeffrey Michael Kalenka to any of the following organizations:

Good Counsel Homes, Inc. at www.goodcounselhomes.org

St. John’s Bread & Life at www.breadandlife.org

Tunnels to Towers Foundation at www.tunnel2towers.org

Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org