Irving Herbert Collins

06/16/2004

Irving Herbert Collins, 81, of 432 Eagle St. died yesterday morning at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. He was a longtime Northern Berkshire businessman. Born in North Adams on Sept. 21, 1922, son of Herbert W. and Rose Owen Collins, he was a 1942 graduate of Drury High School. He also attended the former Bliss Business College. A decorated Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he served with the 802nd Engineers Aviation Battalion. Mr. Collins owned and operated Collins Appliance & Repair Co. until retiring in 1991. He had joined the late Louis Gagliardi in 1950 as a partner in the former Gagliardi's Inc. on Union Street; in 1964, they established Gagliardi & Collins Realty Associates, running it until selling the business in 1981. He also had worked for a short time at the former Sprague Electric Co. and the former McClelland's Press. He was a member of First Congregational Church for more than 50 years, and a former deacon. He also had belonged to the North Adams Country Club, the Frank R. Stiles Post 125 American Legion and the Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed reading history novels and playing golf. He and his wife, the former Marion Geddes, were married Dec. 12, 1944, in North Adams. Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Robert W. Collins of North Adams; a daughter, Marilyn Truskowski of North Adams; a sister, Evelyn Bourdon of Williamstown, four grandchildren and three great-grandchidren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- A memorial service to celebrate the life of Irving Herbert Collins, who died June 16, 2004, will be conducted Saturday at 10 at First Congregational Church of North Adams by the Rev. Jill Graham, pastor. Private burial will take place in the family plot in Southview Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. Memorial donations are suggested for First Congregational Church of North Adams or the FORD "Friends of Renal Dialysis" Foundation at Berkshire Medical Center through FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, 521 W. Main St., North Adams. Survivors include four grandchildren, Rebecca Collins Polumbo, Joelle Collins "Ellie" McDonough, Jeffrey J. Truskowski and Brian F. Truskowski; three great-grandchildren, Emma Rae Polumbo, Joshua Alexander Polumbo and William Samuel McDonough, and two grandsons-In-law, Matthew McDonough and Gary Polumbo. He was predeceased by a brother, Dean Collins.

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