Frank M. "Snitz" Mordavsky

Frank M. "Snitz" Mordavsky, 89 of Manchester, husband of Bernice M. (Yankowski) Mordavsky, died Monday, (June 18, 2001) at Manchester Memorial Hospital. He was born October 11, 1912 in Manchester, son of the late Felix and Katherine (Wadas) Mordavsky, and had been a lifelong resident. He worked in the throwing and weaving mills of the Cheney Brothers as a foreman until 1956, whereupon he became the sexton at St. Bridget Church and St. Bridget Cemetery until his retirement in 1977. Frank was a member of Hose Co. #4 S.M.F.D. from 1932 to 1937. Upon his marriage, June 12, 1937, he became a member of the 8th District Fire Dept. after fighting the Coles Hotel fire on Depot Square with Company #4. As a 63-year member of the 8th District Fire Dept., Frank belonged to Hose Co. #2 and served as treasurer and lieutenant. In 1960 he was appointed assistant fire chief serving until 2000 when he became Chief Emeritus. Frank served under nine chiefs during his tenure. He belonged to local, state and national fire and fire chiefs associations, and served as Manchester's Forest Fire Warden CT-DEP for over 20 years. In sports, he was an outstanding volleyball spiker, playing with the Cheney Brothers entry around the east coast from 1935 to 1960. Frank was an avid fisherman and taught many North End youngsters to fish. After retirement, he assisted in the conducting of the Senior Citizens Trout Derby annually at Salters Pond. In 1971, he received a Trophy Fish Award for a brown trout from the CT-DEP. After retirement, he could be seen evenings at Salters Pond and at Robertson Park softball games. Besides his wife, he is survived by his three children, David A. Mordavsky and his wife, Audrey of Manchester, Dr. Donald F. Mordavsky and his wife, Gail of South Windsor, and Donna (Mordavsky) Johnson and her husband, David of Enfield; six grandchildren, Michael D. Mordavsky, Jennifer K. Mordavsky, Amanda L. Mordavsky, David M. Johnson, Kaley A. Herron, Kalyn A. Johnson; brother-in-law, Cashmire Gut of East Hartford; sister-in-law, Regina Mordavsky of Manchester; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, John M. Mordavsky; and two sisters, Anna Gut and Frances Moorhouse. Funeral services will be held Friday, 8:45 a.m. at the Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, 9:30 a.m., at St. Bridget Church, 80 Main St., Manchester. Burial will be in St. Bridget Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday, 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations may be made to 8th District Fire Dept. Social Fund, 138 Main St., Manchester, CT 06040.