Andrew W. Elcik

PORTSMOUTH - Andrew W. Elcik, formerly of Willard Street in Berlin and a current resident of Edgewood Centre in Portsmouth, N.H., passed away Friday, April 29, 2016, at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass., due to a medical complication while recovering from an illness. He was 62.

Andrew was born on May 16, 1953, in Lewiston, Maine; he was the son of Andrew and Barbara (Morse) Elcik who predeceased him.

Andrew was known to friends and family as Bucky. He and his family moved around a lot in his youth and he had many fond memories of the places he lived such as Madawaska, Maine, Albany N.Y., Millinocket, Maine, and then Berlin, N.H., where he eventually settled down. He was a graduate of Berlin High School in 1971. Following high school he went to the Maine Maritime Academy for one year until he transferred to the University of New Hampshire, graduating in 1975. He had a bachelor's degree in Environmental Conservation.

During his college years, in the summers he would work on top of Mt. Washington. He loved telling his grandchildren about his adventures on top of the mountain those summers and his journey's up the hill on his motorcycle.

After graduating from UNH he returned to Berlin, N.H., and married Deborah (Johnson) Elcik in 1975 and began his career at the paper mill, The Brown Company. He moved his way up the company to paper machine superintendent until he had a swimming accident in 1984 leaving him a quadriplegic. Andrew continued his work at the paper mill as it changed ownership to James River and Frazer and when he retired in 2005 he was a Quality Assurance Diagnostian.

In 2011 Andrew moved to the Edgewood Center in Portsmouth, N.H., to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren. He spent the last five years exploring all that seacoast town had to offer and the staff and residents at Edgewood became an extension of his family.

Andrew was an avid skier, hunter, fisherman, small engine pilot and motorcyclist in his younger years. He continued to enjoy many of these activities even after his accident. He continued to ski through the Maine Handicap Skiing Program at Sunday River. He fished Sebago Lake every summer at his parents' home on Sebago Lake and took every opportunity to be outdoors. Boston sports teams and politics were among Andrew's other passions. He loved great music, great seafood and ice cold Moxie.

Andrew believed strongly in giving back to the communities he loved so much. He was a member of the St. Kieran's parish council. He also served on the Vocational Rehabilitation Council in N.H., advocating for the rights for people with disabilities for years. Most recently he helped support a scholarship fund at Edgewood for CNA's to continue to their education as well as volunteered for NH Long Term Care Foundation to help create funds at a state level. He was very passionate about this cause.

Andrew had a passion for life. He was known for his compassion and optimism. The motto in which he lived his life was "No chapter has closed without another equally rewarding one opening".

He leaves his wife Deborah of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, his uncle and aunt Eugene and Loraine Elcik of Lisbon Falls, Maine, his sister Sue Elcik and her wife Lorrie Mitchell of Lucerne, Maine, his daughter Meagan Desjardins and her husband Ralph of Biddeford, Maine. Andrew was very proud of his eight grandchildren Becky, Ashley, Ryanne, Jamie, Nick, Jayden, Olivia and Drew Desjardins of Maine.

SERVICES: A Memorial Service will be held from 2-3:30 p.m., on May 16, 2016, at Edgewood Centre, 928 South Street, Portsmouth, N.H. There are no calling hours. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery in Lisbon Falls, Maine, at a later date.

Arrangements are by Fleury-Patry Funeral Home, 72 High Street, Berlin, N.H. In lieu of flowers the family ask for people to donate to the scholarship fund Andrew was so passionate about: NH Long Term Care Foundation, ATTN: Andy Elcik Memorial c/o NHHCA, 5 Sheep Davis Road, Suite E., Pembroke, N.H., 03275. Online guestbook at www.fleury-patry.com.