Robert Louis Gacek, 73, of Sandisfield passed away May 1, 2019, in Great Barrington. Prior to moving to Sandisfield in 2015, he had been a 30-year resident of Waterbury, Connecticut.
Born Jan. 20, 1946, in New Britain, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Louis and Anna Petrowicz Gacek. He graduated from E.C. Goodwin Regional Vocational Technical School in New Britain. He later went to Naugatuck Valley Community College, in Waterbury, where he earned his associate degree in hotel and food service management. He was a member of Alpha Beta Gamma International Business Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.
Robert was a proud member of the U.S. Army, having served in Vietnam. He received the Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, two Over Seas Bars, Sharpshooter Badge Rifle M14 and the Sharpshooter Badge M16 Rifle before being honorably discharged.
Mr. Gacek worked both sides of retail and wholesale lumber and millwork sales. He was involved in both the planning and implementation of merchandising programs with many hours of hands-on display work. Over the years he could be found at Chapman Lumber Company, Thomaston, Connecticut; Guardian Building Products, Waterbury; Cleary Millwork, Inc,, Rocky Hill, Connecticut; Lloyds Home Centers, North Haven, Connecticut; and at various Grossman locations.
An active member of the Sandisfield community, Robert was a member of the American Legion Post #456, the Sandisfield Council on Aging and the Sandisfield Historical Society. He was also a member of the Brooklyn Valley VFW Post # 7790 in Waterbury.
Mr. Gacek enjoyed cooking. He could turn a simple meal into a delicious and appetizing delight.
Robert is survived by his wife of 35 years, Mary Ann DeRuiter Gacek. The couple was married Aug. 27, 1983, in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. He is also survived by daughter Elizabeth Hoffman and husband Bruce of Amston; stepson Nicholas Shabrack and wife Amanda of Apex, North Carolina; brother Ronald Gacek and wife Dorothy of Fort Mill, South Carolina; grandchildren Jordan DeSimone and Zoe and Mason Shabrack, all of Apex; and brother-in-law Donald DeRuiter and wife Joyce of Pompton Plains.
The funeral for Robert L. Gacek will be held Saturday, May 18, at 11:00 a.m. at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME in Great Barrington, conducted by Father Peter Naranjo. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the AM VETS Post #77 (Otis), the American Legion Post #456 (Sandisfield) or Soldier On c/o FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to the family, go to www.finnertyandstevens.com.
