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Walter John Fidrocki
Walter John Fidrocki, 97, died January 11, 2023 at
home on Great Neck, Ipswich, following a brief illness, and a long and
productive life. He was the husband of the late Lucille B. (Dewey)
Fidrocki, who passed away in February of 2007.
Walter was born on December 17, 1925, in Boston, the
son of William and Marie (Wojtasinski) Fidrocki, both born in Poland.
During his early years he lived in Boston (where his parents met),
attending Boston English High School and Brown University. He trained as
an airplane pilot, but before obtaining his license he was called to
service as a Medic in the U.S. Army, serving with the rank of Corporal,
during WWII from 1944 to 1946.
He
was stationed in New Guinea, the Philippines, Leyte, Mindanao, Zamboanga,
and spent 6 months in Japan.
While stationed in Japan he performed duties in Hiroshima, 2 months
after the famed bombing. Walter was awarded the Philippine Liberation
Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star, the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon,
and the Victory Medal.
He was
honorably discharged in 1946.
Walter met the love of his life, Lucille Dewey, in
March of 1950 and was engaged by that October.
He was recalled into the Army, in November of 1950, during the
Korean War.
He was sent to
Fort Campbell, as they had a need for Medics, as a Corporal. He was given
leave to get married in January of 1951, and he married Lucille in
Reading, MA during one of the biggest snowstorms of the year.
He was again honorably discharged, in 1951.
He worked for Simplex Wire and Cable Company in
Boston and Cambridge. While working, he attended night classes at
Northeastern University, where he graduated with a Mechanical Engineering
Degree in 1963. He worked for Simplex Wire and Cable for almost 18 years
as a draftsman and mechanical engineer.
Walter then worked as a Cable Splicer and Tester / Engineer with
A.H. Shepherd & Associates / Cable Splicing and Testing in Reading for 40
years.
Walter inherited his father’s artistic talent which
he put to use as a draftsman, and also his violin-playing father’s love of
classical music, especially Scheherazade and the Thieving Magpie, and
learning to play Moonlight Sonata on piano. He exhibited his athletic
skills as Boston-area YMCA freestyle champion, and sailing.
He enjoyed watching Boston sports, especially the Patriots games.
Walter was proud of his children’s accomplishments, and proud of the house
he built in 2008 with geothermal heating and solar electricity.
Walter was a member of Ipswich VFW Post #1093 and a
longtime communicant of Our Lady of Hope Church.
Walter is survived by three daughters, Mary Tennant
and husband Paul, Laura Lindsay and husband Phil, Linda Fidrocki and
spouse Deborah Corbin; two sons, Walter Jon Fidrocki of Texas, and Robert
Fidrocki. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Sarah, Anne,
Christopher, and Emilee; and
many loving nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
Walter was the brother of the late Henry, Alfred, and Eugenia.
His
funeral will be held 9 am Thursday, January 19 from the Whittier-Porter
Funeral Home, 6 High St., Ipswich followed by the celebration of a Funeral
Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in the Our Lady of Hope Church, 1
Pineswamp Rd., Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed.
Visiting hours will be offered Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm. Interment with
Military Honors will be in the Highland Cemetery, Ipswich.
In lieu of
flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to Wounded Warrior
Project https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org
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