Eugene Zewinski

TURNERS FALLS, MA — Eugene R. Zewinski, 86, of 88 Oakman Street died Monday 8/2/21 at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He was born in Montague on September 5, 1934, the son of John R. and Mary (Repeta) Zewinski. Eugene attended local schools and was a graduate and athlete of Turners Falls High School, Class of 1953. After high school he attended Bridgeport University in CT, where he was a pitcher for the baseball team. He was offered an opportunity to try out for and received a position as pitcher for the Boston Braves, but with the Korean War going on, he enlisted in the US Army, where he became a Ranger. He was Honorably Discharged in 1956.

Gene, or Geno which he was know as by many, was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a police officer for the Town of Montague for many years, (serving as truancy officer, safety officer, and hosting bike rodeos) before becoming a Massachusetts State Police/ Registry Officer, where he took out many for their driving tests. He retired in 1992. After retiring he opened the food truck Mr. Z’s which he brought to the Franklin County Fair and at the end of the Turners/Gill bridge, most known for his Kielbasa Grinders and Hamburg Specials. Gene loved and enjoyed antique cars, car shows, puttering around the yard, dancing, entertaining on the holidays with family and going to the Shady Glen for breakfast. He loved to attend his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. He was a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Czestochwa Church in Turners Falls for many years. He enjoyed and was known for his cooking and has been known to do some oil paintings of various landscapes.

Gene leaves his wife of 60 years, the former Carol Sanborn, of Sunderland, MA, daughter of Lena and Toby Sanborn. He leaves daughters Tamra Little, her husband Kenneth and Lisa Adams and her husband Robert. He also leaves three Grandchildren, Sarah Bailey of Gill, Zachary Little of Erving, Autumn Adams of Rochester New Hampshire and five Great Grandchildren, Layla, Evelyn, and Harriet Bailey, Owen, and Rylan Little and a Sister in Law Ginette Zewinski of Turners Falls. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his brother Edward John Zewinski, in March 2020. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday 8/10 at 10am at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 84 K Street, Turners Falls. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Turners Falls with military honors. A calling hour will be held Tuesday morning from 8:30- 9:30am at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square, Turners Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Montague Police Association, c/o Josh Hoffman, 180 Turnpike Road, Turners Falls, MA 01376 or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com

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