David I. Sookey, 93
ADAMS, Mass. — David I. Sookey, 93, of 75 East Road, a longtime Berkshire County businessman and civic leader, died Monday evening, May 3, 2004, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
Born in Kab-Elias, Lebanon, on May 8, 1910, son of Saleem and Gladys Sadeldain Sookey, he came to the United States in 1923 and attended schools in Pittsfield.
An Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, he served with the 591st bombardment squadron from 1943 until his honorable discharge as a corporal in 1945. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal.
Mr. Sookey owned and operated several businesses in Berkshire County, including the former Sookey's Luncheonette, Sookey's Display Service and Sookey's Variety, all in Pittsfield.
In 1960, he purchased the former Greylock Beverage Co. in Adams and operated it until 1967, when he renamed it Oasis Liquor Store and built a new building at the corner of Spring and Dean streets, where it operates today.
During World War II, Lt. John Urban of Pittsfield, a friend of Mr. Sookey, was assigned to a unit headed to North Africa. Mr. Sookey wrote a letter in Arabic and told his friend that if his plane was forced down, he should present the letter to any Arab in order to increase the odds of survival. The letter became a "must carry" item for men on flying missions, and Mr. Sookey received a special commendation for this.
He started his softball career in 1935 with the Polish-American team in Pittsfield, which became one of the premier softball teams in the area. He was almost elected to a spot on the Pittsfield Cubs' Wall of Fame, but ended up as runner-up to former Red Sox first baseman George Scott. His own team, Sookey's Variety, won the Pittsfield City championships of 1936, 1938 and 1939.
Another of his teams, Sookey's Display, won the Western Massachusetts championship. In 1940, his team won the state title and played in the national tournament in Detroit. He also sponsored an all-girl softball team, the Sookeyettes.
He operated the concession stand at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield and two other concessions outside the park. While in the Army, he formed a softball team and arranged for it to travel to Pittsfield to play against the Sookey All-Stars; the game proceeds were donated to the U.S. War Bond cause. He also was the first person to sponsor donkey softball at Wahconah Park, which packed the 4,000-seat stadium on Sundays.
Of all his accomplishments, his most treasured was his family.
Mr. Sookey was a 48-year member of the Crescent Lodge of Masons, Berkshire Commandery 22 Knights Templar, Berkshire Council Royal & Select Master Masons, American Legion Post 68, Berkshire County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Disabled American Veterans, and the American Lebanese Club of Pittsfield. He was also a member of the American Druze Society.
He and his wife, the former Nazeerah Ameen, were married Sept. 24, 1955.
Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, David I. Sookey Jr. and his wife, Gail Ziarnik Sookey, and Richard David Sookey and his wife, Sarah Czaja Sookey, all of Adams; seven grandchildren, David III, Dino, Ramzy, Saleem Jr., Richard II, Kasandra and Summer; a great-grandson, Aden Seely-Sookey, and nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law.
He was predeceased by a son, Saleem D. Sookey, in 1998, and three sisters, Minerva Simon, Lillian Dalank and Ammabelle Dalank.
FUNERAL NOTICE — The funeral will be held Thursday, May 6, at 1 p.m. from AUGE-PACIOREK-SIMMONS FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St., Adams. Imam Talah-Eid, of the Islamic Center of New England in Quincy, will officiate. Burial will follow in the family lot in Southview Cemetery, North Adams.
Calling hours will be Wednesday from 4 to 7 the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to HospiceCare of the Berkshires, Pittsfield, or to the Adams Police Athletic League, through the funeral home.