Gary Brian Szymaniak, who served for a decade in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Hammerberg until 1972, died May 4. He was 81.
Born in Binghamton, NY to the late Walter and Rose Szymaniak, he went on to build a long and respected career as a banker, working at various banks in Chicopee, Holyoke, Ludlow and ultimately Alden Credit Union. He served as an usher at St. Stanislaus Basilica, served as an Auxiliary Deputy Sherrif, was a member of the Lions Club and the Ludlow Chamber of Commerce, and was volunteer baseball coach for the Chicopee American Legion team. He also served on the board of Easterseals.
He earned an associate degree from Holyoke Community College and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Western New England College in 1978.
Family and friends remember him as someone who loved Polish food, family vacations to Wells, ME, Cape Cod and Aruba. He also loved his golden retrievers, Casey, Hailey, and Sailor.
He is survived by his wife of more than five decades Jacqueline, who he met while stationed in Newport, RI; two children, Jeffrey Szymaniak and his wife Tara, and Amy O’Boyle and her partner Timothy Wholley; three grandchildren, Finnian O’Boyle and Francis and Erin Szymaniak. He is also survived by his sister Kathy Himko; brother, Gregory Szymaniak, and his wife, Beth; his nephews, Justin, Aleksander and his wife Kate, and Adam and his wife Rachel; his niece and goddaughter, Jill Himko, and many grand nieces and nephews who adored him.
Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. May 17 Cartmell Davis Funeral Home 373 Court St, Plymouth. A funeral mass will be 11 a.m. May 18 at St. Peter’s Church, 86 Court St. Plymouth. Burial will be at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Buzzards Bay at 1:15 p.m. May 19.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Easterseals and the MSPCA.