Joseph C. Zarek

CHESHIRE -- Joseph Chester Zarek, 86, of 147 East Harbor Road, died Tuesday at Berkshire Medical Center.

Born in Adams, April 21, 1921, son of John and Ann Bieniek Zarek, he attended Cheshire Grammar School, C.T. Plunkett Junior High School in Adams and graduated from the former Adams High School in 1938.

Mr. Zarek joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938, doing gypsy moth control work as a member of the 1174th Company in Westfield. The company relocated him to Spencer that fall, where he did logging and forest cleanup in the aftermath of the hurricane of 1938.

In 1940, he spent five months at the National Youth Administration Camp in Eastport, Maine, at the former Passamaquody Tidal Power Project Village. Also in 1940, Mr. Zarek joined the tool program in General Electric Co.'s plastic department, and graduated from its mold-maker apprentice course, later working in the drafting department as a mold designer. In 1953, he transferred to the power transformer department as a designer. In 1955, he became a senior designer in the ordnance department, and continued to work there until his retirement in 1981. He served as group steward for many years in the local 140 of the American Federation of Technical Engineers.

Mr. Zarek was a communicant of St. Mary's of the Assumption Church, where he served as an usher, a teacher of Christian doctrine, as a collector and captain of the fourth annual appeal drive, and was a lector for nine years until his vision failed.

He was a member of the GE Quarter Century and Pensioners Clubs. He also served for many years as a member of the town of Cheshire advisory board and its recreation committee.

Mr. Zarek enjoyed reading and bird watching, and bowled in several candlepin leagues in Pittsfield and Adams. He also enjoyed playing and watching sports, and helped organized the Cheshire Youngster's League, also being one of the league's first coaches. He also umpired for four seasons in the Adams Babe Ruth League.

Mr. Zarek leaves three brothers, Stanley T. Zarek and Walter M. Zarek, both of Cheshire, and Fernand J. Zarek of Ormand-by-the-Sea, Fla.; and a sister, Helen Randall of Cheshire.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services for Joseph C. Zarek, who died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, will be held Saturday at 9:15 a.m., from DERY-CHESHIRE FUNERAL HOME, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, celebrated by the Rev. David R. Raymond, pastor. Burial will follow in Cheshire Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Zarek may be made to St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department, or to the Cheshire Baseball Leagues, in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 445, Cheshire. Mr. Zarek is also survived by his brother-in-law, Everett Randall; sisters-in-law, Laura "Edie" Zarek and Julie Zarek; nieces, Maureen Pappas, Linda Michaels, Lisa Zarek, Ann Marie Addison, and Jean Therrien; nephews, David Randall, Stanley (Tom) Zarek Jr., Gerald "Jerry" Zarek, and Jeffrey Zarek. He was predeceased by his sister-in-law, Florence Gajda Zarek, who died in 1999.