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William Radomski Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for William Radomski
Ed Gallin
November 18, 2022
Seems like yesterday we were enjoying cigars and friendship with Miara and Scribner and Uconn pals in your yard. We all miss you.
Xo
Ed Gallin
Ed Gallin
November 18, 2021
Miss smoking a cigar in your backyard and enjoying your company
Ed Gallin
November 18, 2020
Sure miss you and those cigars on the porch.
Leeann Simons
December 11, 2009
I just found out about Bill's death today, and I wanted to say how sorry I am. I taught with Bill at Babson College, and I used to talk to him about my son, at Newton North (both of them, actually). He kept trying to peg me as a "typical Newton mom," who's kids couldn't do wrong, and I'd try to convince him I wasn't that person. Then, when my mother was sick and near death, and I was looking for someone to substitute for me during wintersession, Bill said "sure, no problem." You know how he talked. And when she died, and I called him, he again said "no problem."
He is missed.
Henry Michaloski
December 9, 2009
Dear Radomski, Radomski & Radomski,
May I likewise add my voice of sadness to so many others who knew & grew with my cousin Billy(Ciskowski side). His all too early departure from this earthly journey is replaced by the promise of his continuing adventure in the life after...My fondest memory of our childhood visits to New Haven were of Billy climbing out of the Quinnipiac River with his diving gear, having just eaten whatever freshwater mollusks he could harvest...and he ate them raw...and under water. Truly a biology teacher at heart even then...Though the intervening 40 years have sent us in different locales & I knew he would be a credit to any school staff fortunate to hook him...I look forward to seeing him again ...on the other side. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.
Alexis Carol
December 4, 2009
Dear Ellen, Brian & Lauren - My heart is with you as we mourn the loss of your wonderful husband and father. Billy was my classmate and friend in high school. His friendly smile and great spirit was a gift to all of us. God bless you and may your hearts remain at peace knowing that Billy is surely with our loving God and you will all be together again through a love that will never end. Alexis Carol, Madison, CT
Peter Leofanti
December 2, 2009
Billy
It was September 1974 at Day Junior High when I met Bill Radomski. He was to be the new science teacher on the Blue Team. In Newton we did things a lot differently than they did in the inner city school in New Haven from where he had last taught. He could not understand why we had so many meetings, why we anguished over things we could not change, why we were so touchy feely, and why people didn’t go out drinking more.
Well it wasn’t long before we became long and fast friends – his family became my family with momsy and popsy, aunt Mary and uncle Matt and all their families. His friends became my friends – the boys from UConn, too many to mention, and his New Haven buddies.
In the beginning of our friendship when death seemed so far away we would often joke about delivering each others eulogy. When one of us said something or did something notable we would say that it was going to go into the eulogy. Well, Billy you won this bet. I would rather you be writing his now and me some where else.
It was said that the ancient Greek gods were jealous of us humans because we are mortal. Their existence had no immediacy. What they did not do today could be done at another time. So they wiled away their time on frivolous things, playing tricks on one another and entertaining themselves with the lives of us mortals. It is the certitude of death and the knowing that every day counts that gives our life a meaning that the gods did not understand. Well Billy knew the value of life in a way that no other person did. He lived life to the fullest. He wanted to experience it all. Who enjoyed food more than Billy? Who enjoyed his family and friends more than he? Who enjoyed a novel experience more than Billy? And he was always seeking out new experiences. He wanted to taste every facet of life – the good and the bad.
It was the end of the school year and we usually celebrated it one way or another. This particular year we were canoeing on the Saco River in Maine and going to take a three or four hour canoe trip and then camp over night. It was a cloudy day and about two hours out on the river the skies opened up. Billy whips off his shirt and screams to the heavens, “Give me more. I’ll take all you can you’ve got”. I said, Billy, I’ve had enough lets turn around.
About twenty-two years ago Billy and his son Brian met me in Italy. Those ten days were a great experience. I recall two things Billy came home with. We all know his love for food especially red sauce. Well he got his first taste of good Italian marinara sauce on that trip . Once he tasted it he had to have pasta alla marinara at every meal. When he came home it became his specialty, perfecting that recipe to every ones delight. It was the staple at the men’s gathering that he hosted every year.
Monday after Billy died I went to the house. Ellie and Brian and Lauren had spread out pictures on the dining room table. I looked at the pictures of Billy and was reminded of what a vital personality he was. In the last year and a half while he was fighting the cancer and his body was slowly deteriorating, this became the Billy I knew and expected to see when ever I visited. I had forgotten the power of his being until I was reminded by those pictures. When he was in a room you knew it, when he had an opinion you knew it, when you didn’t understand him he would say it a little louder and if you still didn’t understand him he would say it louder until you understood him.
I mention that we were in Italy. One day at my cousin’s house in Viareggio I am upstairs and on the street there is a tremendous clamor. I recognize Billy’s voice coming from the door of an open shop. I run down to see what’s going on. Billy’s voice had been getting louder and louder and by now he is close to his maximum vocal range. “Billy what’s going on,” I asked? “I’m trying to buy Ellie some sexy underwear and I am asking the girl here which pair she thinks is better”. Of course she did not understand English, but by the time he finished she understood him. The underwear was the second thing Billy brought home from Italy. No, the party didn’t start until Billy got there.
When Billy found out about his cancer and came to grips with the inevitable outcome, he made that his last and final big experience. He had no delusions of some miracle cure. He put himself in the hands of the doctors and modern medicine and accepted the consequences in the stoic and uncomplaining way that he did with all the things his life that he realized he could not change.
One of the short term consequences of the chemo was that Billy lost his taste for food – granted a big lose for some one like him, but ironically he never lost his taste for scotch. In fact this was a period when he became a connessieur of the drink migrating form blends to single malts and to ever more expensive singe malts. Fortunately, many of the people that came to visit knew this and usually came with a bottle.
Whenever Billy recovered from the effects of the therapy he was on, he took the opportunity to live his life with ever more gusto. Billy was not one to stay at home and even when he needed the aid of canes (he used two putters) he and Ellie took short over night trips to their favorite places like Mystic and the coast of Maine and visiting old friends. He was still looking for the “experiences”.
Where once red sauce alone could please him, he began watching the food channel. One time I offered to cook him a meal at Frankie and Nancy’s. The women were going out that night and it was a good time for the boys to get together and have a meal and a cigar. I asked him what he would like and he said anything, but he reminded in me no uncertain terms that and he and Ellie had began experimenting with more exotic recipes and that he was not going to be satisfied with the usual fare.
To Ellie, Brian and Lauren and Zack, Billy’s struggle became yours. A more devoted wife, children and son-in-law there could never be. You were there giving love and support without being too over protective. And we know that there was a fine line there that we did not want to over-step. After all Billy was a proud man that did not want sympathy. It was his battle and it bothered him immensely to have his loved ones and friends see him this way. But he knew he could not do it alone and he was grateful for your love and support. He never felt sorry for himself. And true to who Billy was, he made sure everything was in place for his family and that you would be well cared for. One of his simple mantras was – take care of things up front and you will avoid problems later.
I don’t know how it’s going to be for me without Billy. I know the cigars won’t be as flavorful, the parties not as much fun, the food not as tasteful, but I am thankful that you that he chose me as a friend.
Bobby McDonald
December 1, 2009
I remember Billy from Saint Francis CYO. Back in Fair Haven, in New Haven. The St. Francis Minstral Show. RIP Red. Your friends in Fairhaven.
Sally Casavant
November 26, 2009
Ellen,Brian,lauren:
So sorry to hear of your loss,our Prayers and thoughts are with you all at this time..
Bob ,SallY Casavant
Mary Parsons
November 26, 2009
My thoughts are with the Radomski family. I remember Bill in Math/Science group at Babson.
Ed Gallin
November 26, 2009
Billy, you will be missed. Great husband, great father and great friend. Enthusiastic, positive, thoughtful and energetic....always good to be with.....with or without the cigars and scotch.
Your back porch (or garage) in heaven will be a busy place as everyone wants to hang out with you....you are loved and will be missed.
Ed Gallin
November 24, 2009
Ellie, Brian & Lauren....
We are thinking of you and saying prayers, and remembering the terrific times on Avery Street. God Bless.
Martha(Meincke)Christian & Family
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