Daniel J Nowak

Oct. 9, 1935 - Dec. 9, 2016

Services will be held Saturday for Daniel J. Nowak of Orchard Park, who served 20 years as a Buffalo firefighter before becoming an executive of a local supermarket company.

Mr. Nowak, 81, died Dec. 9 in Jennie B. Richmond Chaffee Nursing Home, Springville, where he had been a patient for about two months.

Mr. Nowak was born and raised on Buffalo's East Side and graduated from the former Bishop Ryan High School. After high school he served two years in the Army in Panama.

During his time in the Buffalo Fire Department, he was assigned to Engine 3 at Spring and William streets and later to Engine 22 at Broadway and Bailey Avenue. Mr. Nowak was working in the department's alarm office when he retired in 1982.

He had been working part-time at the former Harvest Markets while he was a firefighter, and he became involved full-time in the grocery business after leaving the Fire Department.

Mr. Nowak became vice president in charge of perishables at Supermarket Development Inc., a company that at one time owned nine Super Duper stores in the area. In that role, he was responsible for the meat, deli items and produce. He retired at age 70.

Mr. Nowak took an annual fishing vacation in the Adirondacks for more than 40 years, according to his son, Gary. The trips continued until a couple of years ago.

His wife of 53 years, Ellen J., died in 2013.

Besides his son, survivors include a daughter, Pamela Murray, and three grandchildren.

The memorial Mass will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Bernard's Catholic Church, 1990 Clinton St.