Walter A. "Jake" Spiak

Spiak, Walter A. "Jake" WATERVLIET Walter A. "Jake" Spiak passed away on June 12, 2017, in Daytona Beach, Fla., to join his father and mother in eternity. Walter was born in Troy on March 13, 1953, and was the son of Walter and Pauline (Opalka) Spiak. He graduated from Maplewood School, Watervliet High School, Colgate University, and obtained a master's degree from R.P.I. He was a member of Maplewood Conservation Club, the Albany Knickerbockers Rugby Club, was a parishioner of Saint Basil's Russian Orthodox Church and was member of the SOYUZ, the Maplewood Volunteer Fire Department, the Uncle Sam Ski Club and the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity of Colgate University. He was the husband of Barbara Muir Spiak; father of Nora, Jake (Barbara), and Dana Spiak; grandfather of Cooper Spiak; brother of Kim (Gerry) Cuva, Loretta (C.J.) Spiak, Debra (Tom) Bendon, Tammy (Bob) Derico, Karen, Cindy (Rocco) Varacchi, and Kathy; son-in-law of Walter (late Mary "Mae") Muir; brother-in-law of Mary-Anne (John) Murphy, Ellen (Walter) Clickner, and Kate (Mike) Donnelly; uncle of Dawn, Laura, Julianne, Tom, Alex, Adam, Matthew, Katie, Bobby, John, Brian, Michael, and Grace. Alex was his favorite. He is also survived by his closest cousin John Opalka; his best friend Ted Testo; and his longtime confidant Bill Smith. Dearly loved by his family and friends, Jake was the long time proprietor of Spiak's Restaurant in Maplewood, carrying on the tradition first started by his grandmother and working alongside his father, mother, wife Barbara, and his sisters. He always welcomed customers with a smile, provided them with great food and hospitality. He took great pride in his family, friends, and community, giving without question. His loss is felt by many and he will sorely be missed. Funeral services for Jake will be held on Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. from the Parker Bros. Memorial in Watervliet, and then will proceed to St. Basil's Russian Orthodox Church in Maplewood where at 11 a.m. the funeral service will be celebrated by Archpriest Peter Olsen. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy. Friends are invited to attend and may also visit with Jake's family, at the funeral home, on Tuesday from 4 until 8 p.m. during which the Panakhida service will be held at 7:30 p.m. For those wishing to remember Jake in a special way and in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation, in his memory to a favorite charity of your choice. Visit parkerbrosmemorial.com to leave a message of sympathy, to light a candle and for directions.