AUBURN-Stanley P. Rutkiewicz, 84, of Auburn, died Sunday September 28th at home, surrounded by his family. He leaves his wife, Mary E. (Kusy) Rutkiewicz; two sons, Ronald S. Rutkiewicz of Auburn and Gary P. Rutkiewicz of Waterford, ME; three daughters, Judith A. Whitcher of Oxford, Susan Casello and her husband David of Grafton and Donna D’Acri and her husband Paul of Auburn; a sister, Mary Kusy of Worcester; 6 grandchildren, Melissa Peterson, Thad Whitcher, Ashley Casello, Toni, Nicholas and Dominic D’Acri; 3 great granddaughters, Kendal and Madison Peterson and Brooke Whitcher; and several nephews and nieces. A brother and a sister, Benjamin Rutkiewicz and Jane Kusy predeceased him. Stanley’s family would like to thank Dr. Thomas Lyons and his wife Peggy for their friendship and support.
He was born in Worcester, the son of Peter and Amelia (Nalawajko) Rutkiewicz and lived in Auburn most of his life, graduating from Auburn High School in 1941. He was a World War II U.S. Army Air Corp veteran, serving as a sergeant, participating in several missions in England and Germany. Stanley was a draftsman for several area companies, retiring from Boudreau Steel and Welding Company in Dayville, CT. He was a member of the Auburn Sportsman’s Club, the Bluebird Association Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Auburn Little League Association.
Mr. Rutkiewicz had coached the Henry Camosse and Sons Little League team for more than 37 years. His team won many league championships, including the District V Division titles and reached the State Finals. His love of baseball never disappeared, and could be found at the field whenever games were played. This past season, he enjoyed coaching his grandsons. He received many awards and honors for his service to the Little League, including Coach of the Year for Massachusetts Baseball in 1999, induction into the Auburn High School Hall of Fame; on October 28th the Town of Auburn will dedicate the day as Stanley Rutkiewicz Day. He also coached the Auburn Hockey Association and the Auburn Pop Warner. He often reminisced about the many children that he coached. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
The funeral is Thursday, October 2nd from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester, with a Mass at 10:00 A.M. in St. Joseph’s Church, 189 Oxford Street. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. Calling hours are Wednesday, October 1st from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Auburn Little League, c/o Vickie McLaughlin, 760 South Oxford Street, Auburn, MA 01501.