Obituary for William J. Kolodziey, Jr.
It is with deep sadness that we, the family of William J. Kolodziey, announce his passing on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, with his loving and caring family by his side. Bill was born in Montague, MA on March 27, 1942. He was the son of William and Delphia (Kania) Kolodziey. Bill, along with his wife, were proud graduates of Ludlow High School, Class of 1960, where he was Class President in his Senior year. He excelled in all sports at LHS, earning 10 varsity letters in 4 years. He was best known as a talented baseball pitcher, earning All-Western Mass honors for two years, one as Western Mass MVP in l960. He was a l964 graduate of AIC, earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree in the area of science. While at AIC, he earned All-New England honors in baseball and soccer. He continued his education at Westfield State University, where he received a Masters Degree in Education. He graduated with honors in 1971.
Upon graduating from AIC in 1964, he returned to Ludlow High to begin his 38-year teaching career, first in the area of science and math, and eventually the subject he was most passionate about, Biology and Honors Biology. For 29 years, he was the LHS basketball and baseball coach, earning two league titles in basketball and one Western Mass Championship in baseball and several sportsmanship awards. He volunteered to serve on numerous committees, both at the high school and for the town of Ludlow. He retired in 2002.
Bill was honored as one of the top ten LHS athletes of the century dating back to 1915. He was a first-class inductee into the LHS Athletic Hall of Fame and was currently serving as its chairman.
In 1983, he organized the Pioneer Valley Summer Soccer League and served as its Commissioner for 36 years. He was currently the Soccer Commissioner and Referee Assigner for the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Association, serving in that capacity since 1993. Bill was a member of the Pioneer Valley Soccer Officials Association for 55 years. He was an active referee for over 25 years, the only person to receive the James Downey Award twice as the outstanding official in Western Mass. He also received the Larry Briggs Award for outstanding contributions to Western Mass soccer over an extended period of time. He was voted into the Massachusetts Interscholastic Soccer Officials Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2017, Bill was honored by being inducted into the Massachusetts State Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
He always enjoyed a good round of golf. He was one of 40 members of the Ludlow Loafers Golf League for twenty years. He and his partner, Dan Holden, either won the title or placed in the top 3 for the past 15 years.
Bill was happiest spending time with his family, enjoying special family occasions, trips to the beach with his wife, watching his grandchildren at their sporting events, and rooting for the Ludlow High School boys soccer team, coached by his son, Greg. If there was a Western Mass Pioneers game scheduled at the stadium, you could find him there.
Bill was a devoted and loving husband to his wife, Jacqueline. They were married on August 17, 1963, and enjoyed 55 wonderful years together. He was a dedicated and loving father to Christopher and his wife, Dianna; Gregory; his daughter, Carolyn Parker and her husband, Michael. He was a proud grandfather to his granddaughters, Amanda Holley and Hannah Kolodziey; his grandsons, Jacob Parker and CJ Kolodziey. He was also a caring “Grandpa” to Dan Parker, Joey Parker and Krista Bryant. He also leaves his sister, Judith Warzecki, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Richard.
Visiting hours at the Ludlow Funeral Home will be on Tuesday, April 16, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. The funeral mass will be on Wednesday, April, 17th at Christ the King Church in Ludlow beginning at 10:00 AM. Those who wish to attend should go directly to the church. Burial will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Ludlow High School Athletic Hall of Fame, c/o Citizens Bank, 33 Center Street, Ludlow, MA 01056; or the Lions Den Athletic Association, 500 Chapin Street, Ludlow MA 01056, Attention of Tim Brillo, Athletic Director.
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Upon graduating from AIC in 1964, he returned to Ludlow High to begin his 38-year teaching career, first in the area of science and math, and eventually the subject he was most passionate about, Biology and Honors Biology. For 29 years, he was the LHS basketball and baseball coach, earning two league titles in basketball and one Western Mass Championship in baseball and several sportsmanship awards. He volunteered to serve on numerous committees, both at the high school and for the town of Ludlow. He retired in 2002.
Bill was honored as one of the top ten LHS athletes of the century dating back to 1915. He was a first-class inductee into the LHS Athletic Hall of Fame and was currently serving as its chairman.
In 1983, he organized the Pioneer Valley Summer Soccer League and served as its Commissioner for 36 years. He was currently the Soccer Commissioner and Referee Assigner for the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Association, serving in that capacity since 1993. Bill was a member of the Pioneer Valley Soccer Officials Association for 55 years. He was an active referee for over 25 years, the only person to receive the James Downey Award twice as the outstanding official in Western Mass. He also received the Larry Briggs Award for outstanding contributions to Western Mass soccer over an extended period of time. He was voted into the Massachusetts Interscholastic Soccer Officials Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2017, Bill was honored by being inducted into the Massachusetts State Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
He always enjoyed a good round of golf. He was one of 40 members of the Ludlow Loafers Golf League for twenty years. He and his partner, Dan Holden, either won the title or placed in the top 3 for the past 15 years.
Bill was happiest spending time with his family, enjoying special family occasions, trips to the beach with his wife, watching his grandchildren at their sporting events, and rooting for the Ludlow High School boys soccer team, coached by his son, Greg. If there was a Western Mass Pioneers game scheduled at the stadium, you could find him there.
Bill was a devoted and loving husband to his wife, Jacqueline. They were married on August 17, 1963, and enjoyed 55 wonderful years together. He was a dedicated and loving father to Christopher and his wife, Dianna; Gregory; his daughter, Carolyn Parker and her husband, Michael. He was a proud grandfather to his granddaughters, Amanda Holley and Hannah Kolodziey; his grandsons, Jacob Parker and CJ Kolodziey. He was also a caring “Grandpa” to Dan Parker, Joey Parker and Krista Bryant. He also leaves his sister, Judith Warzecki, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Richard.
Visiting hours at the Ludlow Funeral Home will be on Tuesday, April 16, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. The funeral mass will be on Wednesday, April, 17th at Christ the King Church in Ludlow beginning at 10:00 AM. Those who wish to attend should go directly to the church. Burial will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Ludlow High School Athletic Hall of Fame, c/o Citizens Bank, 33 Center Street, Ludlow, MA 01056; or the Lions Den Athletic Association, 500 Chapin Street, Ludlow MA 01056, Attention of Tim Brillo, Athletic Director.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Tuesday
16
Apr
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Ludlow Funeral Home
432 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Funeral Liturgy
Wednesday
17
Apr
10:00 AM
Ludlow Funeral Home
432 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Cemetery Details
Location
At the Convenience of the Family
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