Obituaries

John Kzcowski

John Kzcowski, 81, of Hadley, a retired principal storekeeper in Receiving, died Oct. 17 in Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northamp-ton.

He served the University for 37 years before retiring in 1983.

A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served in the western Pacific with the 568th Signal Air Warning Battalion.

He was a communicant of Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley.

A member of the American Legion in Hadley and the Retired State Employees Association, he enjoyed farming and gardening.

He leaves his wife, Justina Kzcowski; a son, Stephen of Sunderland; a daughter, Irene Woodard of Sunderland; and a sister Julia of Connecticut.
Memorial gifts may be made to Most Holy Redeemer Church, 120 Russell St., Hadley 01035.

Helen B. Mieczkowski

Helen B. Mieczkowski, 79, of Whately, an institution domestic worker in the Dining Commons, died Oct. 24 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton.

She served the University for 15 years before retiring in 1984.

Her earlier career in food service included cafeteria work at Frontier Regional School in South Deerfield and a stint at Chick-a-dee Potato Chips in Whately.

A member of Holy Name of Jesus Church in South Deerfield and the Ladies Social Club, she had served on the executive committee for Whately's bicentennial in 1971.

She leaves her husband of 61 years, Joseph Mieczkowski; a son, Joseph III of Whately, a UMass Police sergeant; three daughters, Elaine Slycz of Hat-field, Cathy Robert of Granby and Donna Komosa of Whately; two sisters, eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Name of Jesus Church, Thayer Street, South Deerfield 01373 or to Whately Ambulance, in care of the Whate-ly Fire Department, Whately 01093.

Marie J. Desmond

Marie J. Desmond, '59, '65G, '71G, of Amherst, a retired clerk in the English Department died Oct. 24 at home. She was 74.

She served the University for 19 years before retiring in 1995.

In 1971, at the department's request, she created the English Graduate Research Library with just $1,500. She ran the library until her retirement.

She leaves a brother, Peter of California; and five nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts may be made to Jones Library, 43 Amity St., Amherst 01002.

Frances J. Richason

Frances J. Richason, 84, of Amherst, a retired departmental assistant, died Nov. 1.

She served the University for more than 16 and a half years, before retiring in 1976.

A graduate of Turners Falls High School, she was an office manager for Mackin Fuel and Construction. She moved to Amherst in 1947 when her husband, George R. Richason, joined the Chemistry Department, where he is now a professor.

In another role, she worked part-time at the Jones Library. Highly interested in serving the needs of others, she also volunteered at Cooley Dickinson Hospital for more than three decades, nearly all of it full-time.

In addition to her husband of 62 years, she leaves a son, Mark J.; three nieces and a nephew.

Two sons, George R. III and Craig Alan, died earlier.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cooley Dickinson Hospital Auxiliary, 30 Locust St., Northampton 01060.