CHESHIRE, Mass. —  

Mr. Raymond T. Gaskalka (Ray), 85, of Cheshire, passed away Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Known for his sharp wit, strong will and unquestionable work ethic, he will be remembered as a loyal friend, loving father, brother, and husband.

Born in Adams on April 4, 1940, to the late Thomas and Vera (Ziemba) Gaskalka, he attended public school in Adams and graduated from the former Adams Memorial High School with the class of 1957. Ray subsequently served as a hydraulic mechanic in the United States Air Force from 1957 until 1962, where he was primarily stationed overseas in Holland and Germany. After being honorably discharged, he married the love of his life, Shirley A. Mayotte (Adams, MA.) on September 7th, 1963. Together, they raised a family, including two children, Mark and Holly. An avid outdoorsman, Ray loved to hunt whitetail deer, pheasants, turkey, and bear. He also loved taking his appropriately named “that-dam-boat” onto various lakes throughout the Berkshires including Windsor Pond, Cheshire Lake, and Pontoosuc Lake. Ray enjoyed riding his Honda Goldwing motorcycle on the weekends, going on vacations with his family and friends, managing both farms in Windsor, and Cheshire where he raised a wide variety of livestock, gardened, and harvested firewood. He loved attending music festivals at Hunter Mountain Ski Resort in the Catskills, camping during the summer months, and spending quality time with his close friends and family.

For over 35 years, Ray worked as a plumber for Ouellette’s Plumbing in Adams until retiring in 2005. He also served the Town of Cheshire as their Plumbing Inspector for several years.

He is predeceased by his wife, Shirley (July 19, 2008) and his sister Barbara MacEwan (December 27, 2019). He will be sorely missed by his surviving friends and family including his son, Mark Gaskalka and his wife Sherri Svedine-Gaskalka of Westfield; his daughter, Holly Doktor and her husband Christopher of Valhermoso Springs, AL; his sister Teresa Allen of Leverett, MA; his grandson Joseph Doktor of Valhermoso Springs, AL; his close friend Peter Barrows of Adams MA and by many nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, August 28th at 12:00 Noon in the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St., Adams.

Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams.

Calling hours are Thursday morning from 10:30 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to Adams Post 160 American Legion, 160 Forest Park Ave., Adams, MA 01220.

To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com.