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Charles Kaminski's family was on hand to share stories and memories of the late college dean.
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For some two hours, friends and family had share stories and recollections.
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Kaminski's parents attend the memorial.
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His colleagues take turns recalling about how approachable, funny, and kind Kaminski was.

BCC Remembers Beloved Dean, Charlie Kaminski

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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The environmental science department staff pitched in to purchase a plaque to hang on the walls in memory of Charles Kaminski.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Thomas Tyning described his late friend Charles Kaminski as a "6-foot-2 Paddington bear," with "a cavernous voice that seemed to emanate from the depths of his heart and yet the kind of quality that put people at ease."
 
Kaminski — known as Chuck to some, Charlie to others — loved nature, cooking, and music. He never seemed stressed and was loved by many from across the state.
 
"It's not an exaggeration to say that Charlie's life truly mattered. He modeled consistency in issues that mattered most to him," Tyning said.
 
The Berkshire Community College dean of business, science, mathematics, and technology unexpectedly died in January at age 51. Kaminski had been vacationing in San Agustín in Colombia with his husband, Tom Connelly, whom he had been with for more than 30 years. 
 
"In all of that time, I have never seen him helpless until he died in my arms," Connelly said on Friday when friends, family, and the higher education community joined together at the college to honor Kaminski.
 
And, "his strength is what I've drawn upon to get through this ordeal."
 
Connelly described the trip to Colombia as they toured cities and nature, drank coffee, and ate well. The couple went to the Andes and took tours. Kaminski was enjoying nature on an excursion but at one point Connelly had thought, "is he having a heart attack?" when Kaminski's breathing seemed irregular. 
 
And suddenly, "he collapsed and we couldn't revive him." Kaminski loved the outdoors, nature and traveling, and Connelly takes solace knowing Kaminski died doing exactly what he'd want.
 
"His last days and moments were exactly what he'd want, traveling, experiencing another culture and geography," he said.
 
Friday, though, wasn't so much about that moment. Connelly and his sister Sheila discussed the village of friends and family that had come together to bring Kaminski home from deep in the hills of the Andes but Friday was focused on who Kaminski was and the impact he had made during his life.
 
"He was friendly. He was humorous. He was obviously very bright. He was also very engaged in everything we were doing. Charlie was tremendously gifted," said a colleague.
 
Not only was he an accomplished educator, Kaminski followed his passion for the environment in making the Green Team at the college nationally recognized. 
 
"Charlie wore his love of the natural world like a comfortable sweater. It was just who he was," said Laura Saldarini, who worked with Kaminski on the Green Team at the college.
 
Another colleague told stories of birds Kaminski had helped rescue and the passion the two shared for birdwatching. 
 
Kaminski's impact wasn't just on the BCC campus. His colleagues said it seemed he had friends on every campus in the state they visited. Friday's memorial was attended by friends from the Board of Higher Education, from Boston, from Greenfield and Holyoke, and from all corners of the state. 
 

Tom Connelly, Kaminski's husband, reflects on his loss.
He joined BCC 17 years ago after teaching at Middlesex Community College, decision that sent shockwaves throughout the community colleges in Massachusetts.
 
"When Charlie was recruited here and came here, I bet that made a pretty big impression on them. If Charlie saw something in this place, and I'm sure he spoke very well of the place afterward, that was something they noticed," his colleague said.
 
A childhood friend shared stories of their youth, others shared funny stories about him or just reflected on who Kaminski was. Another recalled Kaminski raving about seeing a band and the passion he shared with Kaminski about music.
 
BCC President Ellen Kennedy said Kaminski wouldn't have been one to want such a memorial. But it was something the college community needed.
 
"This might not have been what he wanted but it was something the rest of us wanted," Kennedy said.
 
She joked that the college did go out of the way to make some accommodations that would have appeased Kaminski — there was no program, little paper used, and everything was compostable.

Tags: BCC,   memorial,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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