Obituary : Jan A. Baclawski
Jan A. Baclawski, 66, of Vineyard Haven, died peacefully at his home in Beacon Falls, Conn., on January 3, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous four-year battle with myleodisplasia and leukemia. He was born in Holyoke to the late John and Casmira Baclawski.
Jan graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in chemical engineering in 1963.
He lived in Connecticut for 37 years while working for Uniroyal Chemical Company both in Naugatuck and Middlebury, Conn.
After their retirement in 2000, Jan and his wife Rosemary moved to their home on Martha's Vineyard, returning to Connecticut recently to be near their family.
Jan is survived by his wife, Rosemary Allen Baclawski of Beacon Falls; his son Scott (Sandra) Baclawski of Watertown, Conn.; his daughters Beth Dempsey of Bristol, Conn., Ann (Joseph) Vitelli of Walpole; his step-son Jim (Kelly) Forsyth Jr. of Seymour, Conn.; step-daughter Kara (John) Rodriquez of Shelton, Conn.; and brother Vincent (Nancy) Baclawski of Annapolis, Md. He was pre-deceased by a brother, Donald Baclawski, of Racine, Wis.
Jan leaves eight grandchildren: Kristen and Lauren Baclawski of Watertown, Conn., Jocelyn and Brianna Vitelli of Walpole, Jessica and Jennifer Forsyth of Seymour, Conn., and Amanda and Michael Rodriguez of Shelton, Conn.
Jan also leaves an aunt, Cecile Patryn, and a niece, nephew, several great-nephews, and many cousins.
Jan was an avid fisherman who also enjoyed clamming, ballroom dancing, and traveling. He loved spending time with his family and many friends on Martha's Vineyard, and in Connecticut and Florida.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Myleodisplasia Foundation in Jan's name to help further research.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Bennett Funeral home in Ansonia, Conn., and followed by a mass of Christian burial in the Church of the Assumption.
