Michael Haddad Sr.

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Michael Haddad Sr., 80, of 217 Main St. died yesterday at North Adams Regional Hospital, where he was admitted Sept. 6. A well-known chef and restaurateur, he had owned the Four Acres Restaurant for 32 years.

Born in North Adams on June 2, 1924, son of Joseph W. and Helen Nassif Haddad, he was educated in Connecticut schools and was a 1942 graduate of Leavenworth High School in Waterbury, Conn.

Mr. Haddad was employed as a machine operator at Scoville Manufacturing Co. in Waterbury until enlisting in the Navy on Dec. 14, 1942. He served as a gunner's mate third class and was awarded several campaign medals.

Following his discharge on Feb. 1, 1946, he moved to North Adams and was employed by the former Renton's Bakery and the former Joanne's Bakery. From 1951 to 1963, he was a chef at the Springs Restaurant in New Ashford.

In August 1963, Mr. Haddad opened the Lenox House Restaurant in Lenox in partnership with Robert K. George and Donald Shaker. He operated that restaurant until April 1972, when he purchased the Four Acres from the Siciliano family.

He was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church and a member of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and American Legion Post 125 in North Adams. He was a former member of Wahconah Country Club in Dalton, the Lebanese Club in North Adams and the Pittsfield YMCA.

He was a Berkshire County deputy sheriff, and served on the advisory boards of the Culinary Arts Program at Charles H. McCann Technical School in North Adams and the Williamstown Route 2 Beautification Project.

He and his wife, the former Julia F. Ameen, would have celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary Sept. 28.

Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Deborah H. Ackley of Williamstown; a son, Michael Haddad of Williamstown; three sisters, Margaret DeMyer of Williamstown, Cecilia Bolus of North Adams and Mae Shaker of Opopka, Fla.; three brothers, Alfred Haddad of Lenox, William Haddad of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Edward Haddad of Simi Valley, Calif., and four grandchildren.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Michael Haddad Sr. who died Sept. 12, 2004, will be Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 11 at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at noon at St. Patrick's Church, Southworth Street, Williamstown, celebrated by the Rev. Michael Devlin and the Rev. Joseph Devlin, SJ. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery in Williamstown. Calling hours at the funeral home will be tomorrow, Sept. 14, from 4 to 8. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested for St. Patrick's Church through the funeral home. Survivors include a son-in-law, Fred Ackley; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Deman Haddad; grandchildren, Ryan Michael Ackley, Ross Tyler Ackley, Nicole Renee Haddad and Michael Haddad III; sisters-in-law, Ursula Haddad, Joan Haddad and Beverly Haddad; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Sally Bock and Helen Shaker, and brother, James "Jimmy" Haddad.