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Theodore S. Strojny, 85, of Westborough, passed away on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at the Westborough Healthcare Center after a short illness.
He was a hard working, principled, and deeply religious man who came from humble beginnings. One of nine children he was born at home in Taunton, Massachusetts in 1923. A standout high-school athlete he earned a scholarship to Holy Cross College where he played tackle on the football team and was a member of the team that defeated Boston College in the 1942 game that preceded the infamous Cocoanut Grove fire. He also played in the Holy Cross 13-6 loss to Miami in the 1946 Orange Bowl. He was a decorated veteran of World War II where he served as a reconnaissance specialist in Italy. After college and the war and a brief foray in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburg Steelers he began his career with the Bay State Abrasives Company in Westborough, first as a machine operator, then as a foreman and general foreman. His manufacturing and management skills landed him the managing directors' position in European start-up venture in Luxembourg in 1962. He retired from Bay State in 1980's and lived in Westborough with his wife Elizabeth who died in 2002. He was a communicant at St. Luke the Evangelist parish in Westborough for many years as well as a food pantry volunteer, and a member of the choir. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, golf, outside work, a good meal, a good drink, and a good conversation. He leaves his son and daughter in law, Ted and Nancy Strojny of Wrentham, two grandchildren, Drew Strojny and Amanda Kate Strojny of St. Petersburg, Florida as well as his sister Anne Kula of Taunton. His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 9, at 9:00 A.M. in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St., Westborough. Burial will follow in St. Luke's Cemetery. Calling hours at the Britton-Summers Funeral Home, 4 Church St., Westborough, are Monday, December 8, from 4 to 7 P.M. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to the UMass Memorial Hospice, PO Box 2795, Worcester, MA 01613 Return to name list |