Francis J. Wojtaszek Jr., 74
ADAMS, Mass. - Francis John "Tootsie" Wojtaszek Jr., 74, of 10 Sparrow St., died Saturday evening, Jan. 21, 2012, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
Born in Adams on May 13, 1937, son of Francis J. and Julia Wojtusiak Wojtaszek, he attended schools in Adams and graduated from the former Adams Memorial High School with the class of 1954.
Mr. Wojtaszek was appointed to the Adams Department of Public Works on May 1, 1976. He was named highway supervisor in 1988 and director of public works for the town on May 22, 1991. He concurrently served on the Tree Commission and as inspector of pest control, retiring in January 2002.
Earlier, he was owner-operator of the family's business, the former Adams Sausage Co. on Mill Street founded by his grandfather, until closing the store in 1972. He also had worked as a funeral assistant and driver for Paciorek Funeral Home for the past several years.
He was an Adams firefighter for 16 years, elected to membership of the Alert Hose Company on Aug. 6, 1968. He served as company secretary for several terms, and retired as an honorary member on Aug. 7, 1984. Active in town affairs, he was a longtime member of the Adams Finance Committee, the Adams Retirement Board, the Downtown Development Commission, and Adams Town Meeting. He was a special police officer for the town since 1979.
He was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Cheshire.
He and his wife, the former Judith M. Gross, were married on Sept. 4, 1961.
Besides his wife of 50 years, he leaves a son, James H. Wojtaszek and his wife, Deborah, of Cheshire; a daughter, Frances J. Sagendorph of Adams; a sister, Mary Jette and her husband, Richard, of Adams; an aunt, Elizabeth Godek of Adams; a daughter-in-law, Renee Wojtaszek of Adams; his former daughter-in-law, Leticia Wojtaszek of Adams; eight grandchildren, Aaron, Michael, Nathan, Katelyn and Dylan Wojtaszek and Kyle, Ryan and Brady Sagendorph; two nieces, Julie Jette and Patty Hanley, and many cousins.
He was predeceased by his son John "Jack" Wojtaszek on Aug. 5, 2001.
FUNERAL NOTICE - The funeral for Mr. Wojtaszek will be held Thursday, Jan. 26, at 8:45 a.m. from Paciorek Funeral Home, 13 Hoosac St., Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian burial at 10 in St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Cheshire. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary of the Assumption Church or to St. Stanislaus' School through the funeral home.