Boylston: Otakar Jiroutek of 28 Mill Road, Boylston, Massachusetts, died peacefully Thursday, July 29, 2021, at Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was 91.
Born Aug. 15, 1929, in Czechoslovakia, he was the son of Otakar and Anna (Knajflova) Jiroutek. He attended schools and college in Czechoslovakia.
Mr. Jiroutek worked in the advanced textile looms and papermaking machinery industry. Having studied at a textile factory in Zlin, Czechoslovakia, he began his career as a clerk in a textile factory. By 1965, he was developing specialized water and air jet looms and exhibited this technology at the 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal.
In 1967, he emigrated to the United States and set up a loom production plant for Draper Corp, in Hopedale, Massachusetts, using the technology he brought from Czechoslovakia.
In 1972, he began troubleshooting paper making machinery for Thermo Electron (now Kadant Inc) and traveled on business throughout Central and South America, Europe, Canada and the United States.
A longtime member of the YMCA, he once won a senior weightlifting competition in Boston. A lifelong musician, he played violin, piano and trombone. In retirement, he volunteered his trombone and engineering talents in the Clinton Middle School Band.
His life of hard work and love ended up in Boylston, with his longtime companion Robin Quist with whom he spent his most beautiful years full of love and understanding. He helped raise her son, Caleb.
Mr. Jiroutek also is survived by a son, Otakar, from his first marriage, and two sons, Michael and Steven, from his second marriage.
Mr. Jiroutek had 11 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jaraslava Jiroltkova and siblings Olga and George.
Calling hours are 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 13, at Nordgren Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 300 Lincoln St., Worcester., Massachusetts. The Celebration of Life is at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 14, at Salem Covenant Church, 215 East Mountain St, Worcester. Burial is at Pine Grove Cemetery, Boylston.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Clinton Public Schools Scholarship and Enrichment Foundation, 150 School St., Clinton, MA 01510. For directions or to leave an online condolence message, please click guestbook link.