Obituary of Alexander A. Kamantauskas

May 15, 2013 Alexander A. Kamantauskas, 45, died May 15 at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md., after a year-long struggle with cancer. Alex was a musician, an expert in computer software and hardware, a Civil War history buff, a studious sports fan, a devoted husband and a doting father to his four children. Born in Baltimore County to Irenaeus and Sally Kamantauskas, he was raised in Columbia, Md. and graduated from Oakland Mills High school. He received associates degrees in general studies and music from Howard Community College and attended Northland College in Ashland, Wis., and St. Mary's College of Maryland before earning his bachelor’s degree in music composition and theory from Towson University, Md. It was there he courted his future wife, Cristin Brieaddy. They were married in 2000. Alex was a pioneer in providing Internet services to the masses in the 1990s while working for software upstart Clark.net out of a barn in Maryland that housed both Internet servers and cows. He subsequently held Internet technology positions with a variety of companies including The Post-Standard and, most recently, AmeriCU Credit Union. Alex was a gentle man with a subtle wit and a depth of knowledge hidden behind a humble persona. He loved nothing more than helping his children understand and navigate the world around them, from the swing of a baseball bat to the melody of a song to a guided tour of the battle field at Gettysburg, their most recent adventure before his diagnosis. He is survived by his wife, Cristin; children Joseph, Joshua, Mary Rose and Samuel; his parents, Irenaeus and Sally; siblings Kristina (Gregory) Thorne, Katrina (A. Darwin) Kamantauskas-Holder, Aldona (Charles) Joseph, Irenaeus Kamantauskas II, Eugene (Uta) Kamantauskas; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hollis Funeral Home, 1105 W. Genesee St. Syracuse. Funeral Services:10 a.m. Thursday St. Charles Borromeo Church, 417 S. Orchard Rd., Westvale. Burial: Sacred Heart Cemetery, Lakeland In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made for the support of Alex’s children at www.YouCaring.com/teamalex. The family is grateful to all who have contributed already.