James A. Kaszanek

James A. Kaszanek, 77, died peacefully on July 14, 2018. Born and raised in Boston, Jim graduated from Mission Church High School, Class of '58, and Bentley College. He moved to Rockland in 1963 where he raised his family. Jim was a true leader and very committed and involved in the community; he held numerous positions in the Rockland Jaycees, the Rockland Democratic Town Committee and the Rockland Lions Club; and was a member of the Rockland Knights of Columbus and the Rockland Eagles. Jim was a talented drummer and shared his love of music by teaching drums to many students over the years. He was the Manager of the Defenders Junior Drum & Bugle Corp and traveled with the senior corps all over the country. Jim enjoyed karaoke; and performed with the group "The People Next Door" and the South Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra. Jim retired from both the Boston Gas Company and as the Executive Director of the Rockland Housing Authority. He also worked for Toyota of Weymouth after closing Kaszanek Construction Company. He was an avid reader, enjoyed playing golf, bocce and cards, as well as doing Sudoku, crosswords and the Jumble. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 56 years, Mary Pat (Costigan); was the father of Barbara Wahlstrom and her husband Kenneth, Celine Furlong and her husband Richard, James Jr. (Jamie) all of Rockland, and Denise Esposito and her husband John of Kingston. Proud "DziaDzia" to his grandchildren Andrea Furlong, Richard Furlong Jr. and his wife Brittany (Paradis), Desiree Tivnan, John, Julianne, Angelina and Mitchell Esposito, Erik and Morgan Wahlstrom, Brendan, Ryan and Liam Kaszanek and great grandfather of Ellie Furlong. He was the brother of William and his wife Mary (Ford) Kaszanek of Rockland, Joy and her husband Jack Bartlett of Burlington; brother-in-law of Carol (Costigan) Dodge and her late husband Albert J. Sr. of Pembroke, Jean (Costigan) Hunt and her husband James of Dorchester and the late Helen (Costigan) Daley and her husband Paul of Easton. He also leaves behind his devoted companion Kathy Lavery and was loved by several nieces, nephews and cousins. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Jim's life on Thursday July 19, 2018 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Magoun Biggins funeral home, 135 Union Street Rockland, MA. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday July 20, 2018 at 9:00 AM at Holy Family Church. Burial will follow at Holy Family Cemetery. Donations may be made to The Friends of South Shore Health System Scholarship Fund, South Shore Hospital, 55 Fogg Rd, Box 29, S Weymouth, MA 02190.