Bernard R. “Baker” LaScala, age 84, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, Oct. 19th at Baystate Medical Center. He was born on Jan. 19, 1932 in Holyoke. He was a son of the late Bruno V. and Rhea E. (Guerin) LaScala. Bernard worked as the Senior Custodian for Chicopee schools for 37 years before he retired from Chicopee Comprehensive High School. He was a US Army Veteran who served during the Korean War. He was a former communicant of Assumption Parish and most recently a parishioner of St Rose de Lima. He belonged to the American Legion Post 337. Bernard loved to garden, do puzzles, was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan, but most especially, he loved to spend time with his family. He was the President of the Custodians Association in Chicopee and through his work introduced collective bargaining. Bernard leaves his loving wife of 59 years Simone (Blanchette) of Chicopee. He leaves 2 sons Roland LaScala and his partner Joe Beard of Albany, NY and Richard LaScala and his wife Tina of Chicopee; 1 daughter, Theresa Howard of Troy, NY and daughter-in-law Carol LaScala of Durham, NH. He is predeceased by his daughter Joanne LaScala and his son-in-law Gregory Howard. He leaves 1 brother, Francis LaScala of Ashland, MA; 1 sister, Barbara Kuras of Chicopee; 5 grandchildren Celeste, Olivia, Ethan, Elisha and Gina along with many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. He is predeceased by 2 brothers, Philip “Rene” and Vincent and also by 4 sisters, Theresa, Claire, Ann and Delores. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 from 4-7 p.m. at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St, Chicopee. A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, Oct. 24th at 10 a.m. in the Grise Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian burial in St Rose de Lima Church at 11 a.m. Burial will take place in St Rose de Lima Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the St Joan of Arch School, 587 Grattan St, Chicopee, MA 01020.