Elton W. Turek

Elton W. Turek, 79, of Bloomfield passed away at his home on Saturday, (February 23, 2002). He was born in West Hartford, August 13, 1922, the son of the late Helen Hale Turek and Michael W. Turek, and is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jean Hughes Turek. After graduating from William Hall High School in West Hartford, he entered the engineering program at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft where he was president of the Ski Club and a member of the National Ski Patrol. Elton volunteered for the 10th Mountain Division of the Ski Troops in 1942 and was with the first troops stationed at Camp Hale in Colorado. Mr. Turek was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic and meritorious service in combat when in the Appenine Mountains and Po Valley in Italy. An avid skier and outdoorsman, he opened Veteran's Sport Shop in Hartford in 1946 when he returned from World War II. He was recently inducted into the Ski Industry Hall of Fame. Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Louise Turek Cooke and her husband Stephen of Marlborough, Martha Turek White and her husband Douglas of Stowe, VT, Elton Hale Turek and his wife Barbarajean of Colchester; two brothers, Donald G. Turek of Gilsum, NH and Merrill O. Turek of West Hartford and Orlando, FL; six grandchildren Dustin, Tyler, Scott and Hilary Cooke and Evan and Zachary Turek. Elton was a member of the First Congregational Church of Bloomfield, the National Association of the Tenth Mountain Division, Inc., the Columbia Lake Association and an honorary member of the Hartford Ski Club. A memorial service will be held Friday, March 1, 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Bloomfield, 10 Wintonbury Ave., Bloomfield, with the Rev. Richard A. Smith officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Congregational Church of Bloomfield, 10 Wintonbury Ave.; or to the Bloomfield Senior Services Dept., 330 Park Ave., Bloomfield 06002.