1935
Richard
2021
Richard S. Rozkuszka
June 14, 1935 — July 30, 2021
Obituary
Richard Rozkuszka, 86, passed away peacefully at home on July 30, 2021, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was born in Springfield, MA on Flag Day, June 14, 1935, to the late Ted and Regina (Dembrowski) Rozkuszka. Richard grew up in Russell, MA and was a 1953 graduate of Westfield High School. He graduated in 1963 from the Hampden College of Pharmacy and earned a Master’s in Education from Westfield State College in 1969.
Richard joined the Air Force National Guard at Westfield-Barnes Airport and was activated in 1961 during the Berlin Crisis. He served in Phalsbourg, France as a Weather Observer with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Richard married Paula Zisk on July 11, 1965 in Middlefield, MA. Richard, or “Roz”, as he was known to his many friends, colleagues, and students, taught middle school science at Birchland Park school in East Longmeadow, MA, for 28 years, retiring in 1992. Roz was also a pharmacist, and began his pharmacy career in 1963 at independent pharmacies in Pittsfield and Westfield, MA. Later in his pharmacy career, he worked for Genovese and Fay’s Drug Stores, and retired from CVS Pharmacy in 2009.
Richard had a passion for vehicles and military history, and loved sharing his extensive knowledge. His hobbies included restoring a WWII 1942 Ford Jeep, which he would bring to many local parades and cruise nights, along with his 1911 Ford Model T and a 1973 red, white, and blue AMC Super Jeep. He enjoyed Volkswagen Karmann Ghias and BMWs, and was known for having the cleanest cars around. Richard also enjoyed traveling, particularly to Europe. He was a resident of West Springfield for fifty years, and enjoyed spending the winter months of his retirement in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Richard leaves behind his loving wife of 56 years, Paula (Zisk) Rozkuszka, beloved daughter Rozlynn (Rozkuszka) Desilets, son-in-law Bobby Desilets, and grandchildren Hadley and Jack Desilets, all of Medfield, MA, along with many cousins. During his final months, Richard received wonderful care from the staff of Care Resolutions of Medfield, MA and Care Dimensions Hospice of Danvers, MA.
A graveside burial will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday, August 5th, at Paucatuck Cemetery, 285 Sibley Ave., West Springfield, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 ( https://act.alz.org/donate ) or the Dakin Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101 ( https://www.dakinhumane.org/ ).
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Richard S. Rozkuszka, please visit our floral store.
Richard Rozkuszka, 86, passed away peacefully at home on July 30, 2021, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was born in Springfield, MA on Flag Day, June 14, 1935, to the late Ted and Regina (Dembrowski) Rozkuszka. Richard grew up in Russell, MA and was a 1953 graduate of Westfield High School. He graduated in 1963 from the Hampden College of Pharmacy and earned a Master’s in Education from Westfield State College in 1969.
Richard joined the Air Force National Guard at Westfield-Barnes Airport and was activated in 1961 during the Berlin Crisis. He served in Phalsbourg, France as a Weather Observer with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Richard married Paula Zisk on July 11, 1965 in Middlefield, MA. Richard, or “Roz”, as he was known to his many friends, colleagues, and students, taught middle school science at Birchland Park school in East Longmeadow, MA, for 28 years, retiring in 1992. Roz was also a pharmacist, and began his pharmacy career in 1963 at independent pharmacies in Pittsfield and Westfield, MA. Later in his pharmacy career, he worked for Genovese and Fay’s Drug Stores, and retired from CVS Pharmacy in 2009.
Richard had a passion for vehicles and military history, and loved sharing his extensive knowledge. His hobbies included restoring a WWII 1942 Ford Jeep, which he would bring to many local parades and cruise nights, along with his 1911 Ford Model T and a 1973 red, white, and blue AMC Super Jeep. He enjoyed Volkswagen Karmann Ghias and BMWs, and was known for having the cleanest cars around. Richard also enjoyed traveling, particularly to Europe. He was a resident of West Springfield for fifty years, and enjoyed spending the winter months of his retirement in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Richard leaves behind his loving wife of 56 years, Paula (Zisk) Rozkuszka, beloved daughter Rozlynn (Rozkuszka) Desilets, son-in-law Bobby Desilets, and grandchildren Hadley and Jack Desilets, all of Medfield, MA, along with many cousins. During his final months, Richard received wonderful care from the staff of Care Resolutions of Medfield, MA and Care Dimensions Hospice of Danvers, MA.
A graveside burial will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday, August 5th, at Paucatuck Cemetery, 285 Sibley Ave., West Springfield, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 ( https://act.alz.org/donate ) or the Dakin Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101 ( https://www.dakinhumane.org/ ).
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Richard S. Rozkuszka, please visit our floral store.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard S. Rozkuszka, please visit our flower store.
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