Walter J. Lubelczyk

Walter J. Lubelczyk Sr., 87, a lifelong resident of Manchester, died at home on March 30, 2010. He was one of five children born to Jacob and Mary Stasz Lubelczyk, who had immigrated to the United States from Poland in the early 1900s. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Althea Kaminski Lubelczyk and three sons: Walter, Jr., Thomas and Stephen.

He was born in Manchester in 1923 and was educated at St Casmir School, Manchester Central (Class of 1941A) and New Hampshire College where he was the recipient of the School's Gold Key Award for academic excellence. Growing up in Manchester, Walter was an active member of the Manchester Boys Club and worked as a paperboy for the Manchester Union Leader starting at age 9. He was one of a group of inner-city boys invited to attend the St. Paul's School Summer Camp in Danbury during the Depression; this camp experience was one of his favorite memories.

Walter served in the United States Navy as a radioman on a PT Boat in the South Pacific; he served for the duration of the war. He was proud of the fact that it was his boat, having just taken casualties in battle, that was honored with the privilege of returning General Douglas McArthur to the Phillipines in fulfillment of his "I will return" pledge; in the Time Life Books news reel of the event, Walter is seen as a saluting sailer as the General first stepped on-shore.

After being honorably discharged from the navy as Radioman 2nd Class, Walter returned to Manchester. Working as a barber during the day, he attended evening classes in accounting at NH College on the GI Bill. After graduation, he took on a series of positions as financial controller and salesman at a number of local companies including: Manchester Knitted Fashions and Foster Beef. He worked as a salesman for Remington Rand, an early market leader in typewriters. He eventually became a co-owner of the business which evolved into Office Dimensions which sold office equipment and Steelcase furniture statewide.

Walter's community activities included 13 years as a head coach in the Southwest Little League; he was an active member of the Manchester YMCA and the Manchester Country Club. He was a lifelong member of St. Hedwig's Church.

He is survived by his wife Althea, three sons, daughters in law: Lynda Corriveau Lubelczyk & Alice O'Connor, five grandchildren: Kerry Braen of Hoboken, NJ, Joseph Lubelczyk of Bedford, NH and Colin, Kevin and Michael Lubelczyk of Gorham, Maine, Great grandson Mason Braen, sister Helen Zygmunt and 11 nieces and nephews.

A funeral liturgy took place in the funeral home on Saturday, April 3, 2010.

Burial followed in the Pine Grove Cemetery.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider a donation to the Manchester Boys and Girls Club, 555 Union Street, Manchester, NH 03104.