Eugene Grazia

Eugene Grazia, 80, formerly of West Springfield died Sunday in a Florida hospital. Gene was born in Springfield, and lived in West Springfield most of his life before moving to Florida 20 years ago. A graduate of West Springfield High School, he graduated from Michigan State University, where he attended on a hockey scholarship. Gene was a member of the 1959 United States World Hockey team and the 1960 Olympic Gold Medal winning Hockey Team in Squaw Valley, CA. A physical education teacher for the West Springfield High School for 26 years Mr. Grazia coached Hockey, Baseball and Golf. The award for the top forward in Western Massachusetts High School Hockey is given the Gene Grazia Award. A member of the Deadline Gang, he also belonged to the Dante Club and Springfield Country Club. He leaves two sons Eugene and Robert; his former wife Lee (Ruggeri) Grazia; a grandson Robert and was predeceased by a brother Robert and sister Alice OBrien. Visiting hours will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home Sunday from 5:00 7:00pm. A private funeral will be held with burial in St. Thomas Cemetery. For more information please visit curranjones.com. Donations may be made to the Exposition Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 124, West Springfield, MA 01090.