WESTFIELD – Albert Carvel “Bert” Cheevers, 84, son of the late Albert W., and Mildred (Guidi) Cheevers of Pittsfield, died peacefully early Friday evening, January 17th with his family at his side at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.He spent the early years of his life living on View Street in Pittsfield, with his mother, father and brother. Bert enjoyed hydroplane boat racing, canoeing, skiing down the Thunderbolt Trail on Mount Greylock, ice fishing on Onota Lake, playing hockey, hunting, and snow shoeing in the Berkshire forest with his friends, Billy, Bud, and Jimmy. From 1951-1953 he served in the US Army as a military police officer while stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict. Later in 1953, he married Joan A. Handy and eventually the couple moved to Westfield with their daughter Nancy. A second daughter, Carol, was born. Bert was employed at Carl Fisher Company in Springfield for 33 years while residing in Westfield with his family.
Throughout his adult life Bert continued to enjoy outdoor activities with his friends, and most especially, with his daughters. He also continually honed his skills as an avid bird watcher, tracker, and outdoorsman in his late adult years until Alzheimer’s disease interfered with his independence.
Bert was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Joan A. (Handy) Cheevers and will be dearly missed by his two daughters, Carol J. Snyder and her husband Fred of Monson, and Nancy A. Cheevers of Leeds; his brother, James W. Cheevers of Millersville, MD; and his grandson, Ryan Cheevers-Brown of Leeds.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 22nd at 1:45 p.m. at the Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home, 624 College Highway, Southwick. Committal services and Military Honors will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Massachusetts Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam. Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday evening, January 21st at the funeral home from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
The family requests in lieu of sending flowers, donations in Bert’s memory be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the Holyoke Soldiers Home. For more information, please visit us at:
