WEBSTER- Thomas W. Gorski, Sr., 90, died peacefully Wednesday, December 11, 2013 in UMass Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family.
He leaves his wife of 64 years, Reine A. (Starosta) Gorski; 4 children: Denise C. Gorski of Highland, NY, Atty. Thomas W. Gorski, Jr., and his wife Karen, Donna M. Recko and her husband James, and Martina R. Gorski-Strong and her husband Keith, all of Webster; 8 grandchildren: Thomas W. Gorski, III, Noelle Gorski, Jessica, Jenna, and Jillian Recko, and Alexandra, Taylor, and Kaileigh Strong; 3 great-grandchildren: Tyler, Ethan and Noah, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Attorney Joseph Gorski, Edward Gorski, and John Gorski, as well as a sister, Cecelia Brisbois, and by his step mother, Mary T. (Langer) Gorski.
Tom was born in Dudley and raised in Webster, the youngest child of Joseph F. and Katherine (Napierata) Gorski. He graduated from Saint Joseph Elementary School and Bartlett High School, where he played on the varsity football and baseball teams, and later briefly served as assistant football coach. He was inducted into the Bartlett High School Hall of Fame as a member of the undefeated 1941 baseball team. He was also the quarterback for the semi-pro Colonials football team.
He was a proud World War II United States Marine Corps Veteran, who participated in 4 campaigns in the South Pacific. He completed an impressive 35 combat missions as a dive bomber radio gunner. Upon his discharge on December 26, 1945, he held the rank of Staff Sergeant and received the Presidential Unit Citation.
Mr. Gorski began his working career as a part-time highway commissioner for the town of Webster. He owned and managed Starosta Bros. Inc. Restaurant, better known as “Tommy’s Café”, from 1951-1961. From 1959-1965, he was a full time clerk for the Board of Assessors in Webster. He was elected part time Assessor from 1957-1979. As a licensed Massachusetts real estate broker, he performed real estate appraisals on a part time basis. His employment for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts began in 1965 and included duties as a supervisor in the Bureaus of Property Taxation and Local Assessment. Upon his retirement in 1986, he co-founded GORSKI MUNICIPAL CONSULTING SERVICE, advising cities and towns in the areas of assessing practices and tax collection procedures. He was a guest speaker and lecturer at both Assessors, Collectors and Treasurers Association events, as well as the Assessors School at the University of Massachusetts.
Tom was always willing to contribute to his community. This was evident as he was a member of the following organizations: Webster Advisory and Finance Commission, Webster Industrial Development Commission (Vice Chairman), Webster Bicentennial Committee, Webster Democratic Town Committee (Chairman), Worcester County Assessors Association (Executive Board), Webster-Dudley PAV and a life member of Auburn Webster Lodge of Elks #2118. He also served on the Board of Directors of Hometown Bank for many years.
Tom’s number one love was “his bride” and spending time with their family. Among his many interests were growing his annual gardens and canning his infamous polish dill pickles.
Mr. Gorski was a devoted communicant of Saint Joseph Basilica, where he was a long time member of the Friends of Saint Joseph, and the Sacred Heart Society. He volunteered for the parish’s annual festival for many years, making his delicious stew burgers for the “Kitchen Booth”.
The family would like to thank all the staff of Harrington Hospitals, Hubbard TCU, and UMass Memorial for their loving and compassionate care during his illness.
The funeral will be held Monday, December 16 from the Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School St., Webster, with a mass at 10:30 am in Saint Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb St., Webster. Burial will be in Saint Joseph Garden of Peace. The Webster- Dudley Veterans Council will perform military honors at the cemetery. Calling hours will be from 3:00 to 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 15, in the funeral home. Donations may be made in his memory to the Friends of St. Joseph School Fund, 53 Whitcomb St., Webster, MA 01570.