Robert Michael Czerwinski

1956 - 2025

Robert Michael Czerwinski, 68, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2025, with family by his side after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Robert was born in Peekskill, New York to Thomas and Irene (Bobrek) Czerwinski. He was raised in Wappingers Falls, New York, graduating from Roy C. Ketcham High School and later moving to Pittsfield in 1983.

Robert, or "Bob" as he was known to many, had a love of the fire service which began in 1973 when he joined the New Hackensack Volunteer Fire Company. After moving to Pittsfield to operate MedCare Supply on Elm Street, he worked for a short time for the Longmeadow Fire Department before being hired as a permanent member of the Pittsfield Fire Department in 1987. He would always refer to being a firefighter as "the best job in the world". He spent the next 32 years of his career with the PFD, rising through the ranks to the position of Chief in 2010, which he referred to as one of his greatest honors. He served on the District 5 Hazardous Materials Response Team until he became Chief in 2010 when he was then appointed by the Governor to the Hazmat Advisory Council for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bob was also an Emergency Medical Technician, a designation he held for 39 years. Following his retirement from the Pittsfield Fire Department in 2019, he served as interim Fire Chief for the Towns of Granby and Dalton, MA as well as the interim director of Southern Berkshire Ambulance Service. He also participated in many volunteer activities in the community including the Jimmy Fund of Berkshire County, the Josh Billings Runaground, and Special Olympics, to name a few.

Bob always stressed the importance of learning and encouraged his employees, colleagues and family to "always be the student". He was an avid reader, always interested in learning new firefighting and leadership techniques. He earned his associate's degree in Fire Science from Berkshire Community College, and would later go on to teach the Fire Science Program there and at Greenfield Community College, then becoming a coordinator for that program. He also traveled the country teaching classes for HazMat Consultants and in 1994 established his own company, Emergency Response Technologies, Inc. where he taught numerous OSHA, hazardous materials, confined space and other fire and construction safety classes for local businesses and fire departments in Berkshire County as well as numerous fire departments in Columbia County, New York. Bob loved getting to know and be a part of the lives of the many people he met while teaching.

Bob had the gift of being able to strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. We were always amazed that wherever we went he would either run into someone he knew or discover some kind of connection with them. His sense of humor will be deeply missed - he was always quick-witted and ready with a joke - as will the way he was there to support us, help us solve a problem, cheer us on and lift us up when we were down.

Bob enjoyed spending time with his family and friends; loved visiting Maine and other areas (and yes, visiting a fire station every place he visited and getting a t-shirt!); vacationing with the "cruise group" and especially enjoyed being with his grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by those he leaves behind including his loving wife, Jody Phillips; children Amanda Czerwinski of Milford, MA; Robert K. Czerwinski (Katrina) of Pittsfield and Meggan Czerwinski of West Springfield, MA; bonus children Kortney Gardner (Jonathan) of Vernon, CT and Justine Gardner (Cody) of Waterbury, CT; and five grandchildren: Vaughan, Riley, Liam, Hadley and Casen. He also leaves behind his brothers Thomas Czerwinski, of South Bend, IN and Henry (Margaret) Czerwinski of Albany, NY; a sister Barbara (Dave) Stewart of Conesus, NY; sisters-in-law Kathy (Rick) Carty and Tricia Phillips, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Thomas and Irene Czerwinski and a sister, Andrea Hagenah. Bob was also fortunate to have had a special group of people in his life whose support and friendship, especially over the last few years, meant the absolute world to him.

Bob's family would like to extend its most sincere gratitude to ALL of the staff of the Phelps Cancer Center whose care and compassion are second to none and without whom this journey over the last six years would have been much more difficult. Special thanks also to the exceptional staff of the Wound Care Clinic and the staff of HospiceCare in The Berkshires.

FUNERAL NOTICE:

Funeral services for Robert M. Czerwinski will be held Monday, May 5, 2025, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m., at St. Joseph Church, celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Michael A. Shershanovich, Pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery.

Calling hours will be held Sunday, May 4, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., at DERY FUNERAL HOME. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be appreciated to the Jimmy Fund of Berkshire County, Tunnel to Towers Foundation or HospiceCare in The Berkshires, In care of the Funeral Home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, 01201.