WESTFIELD – Robert F. “Bob” Andras, of Westfield passed peacefully Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a courageous and year-long battle with Leukemia. He was born in Westfield on June 23, 1933 to the late Frank E. and Edwina F. (Wyman) Andras.Bob graduated from Westfield High School where he was the starting pitcher for the baseball team for four years. Bob was employed as a quality assurance engineer for National Blank Book of Holyoke, owned and operated a garage in Springfield, and was also a machine designer for the former Foster Machine Company in Westfield. He also was a draftsman and drew many home plans. After years of dedicated service, Bob retired in 2000 from Balise Motor sales as a top salesman. Bob was a proud member of Christ the King Church in Westfield. In his spare time, he built model planes, and was a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the Pioneer Valley Radio Control Club. A lifelong athlete, Bob was an avid golfer and founder of the Robert F. Andras, Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament.
Bob leaves his loving and devoted wife of twenty-eight years, Carol J. (Hall) Andras; two sons, Gary R. Andras of Holyoke, Kenneth R. Andras and his wife Justine of Westfield; two daughters, Christine A. Balise and her husband Brian, to whom Bob referred as his son, Patricia A. Eichstaedt of Westfield, and his “four legged children,” Shyla, Lola, Bella, and Rusty. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, Gianna, Nora, and Jillian Andras, Tammi and Matthew Flagg, Derrick Balise, Joseph and Brianna Eichstaedt, Fraser Andras, Steven Gran, Julianne and Geoffrey Lucas; great-grandchildren, Logan and Brenden Flagg, and Eve Gran; mother and father-in-law, Ruth and Ray Lopes; nieces, Donna and Carol Haskell; nurse sister-in-law, Ann Haskell and uncle Richard “Bud” Andras. Bob was also was a dedicated foster parent to seventeen children. Bob was predeceased by his son, Robert F. Andras Jr.; a daughter Deborah Lucas and a sister, Barbara Jean Andras.
Calling hours will be Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield. The funeral will be held Saturday, November 2nd at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 297 Russell Road, Westfield, with burial to follow in Pine Hill Cemetery in Westfield.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Bob’s memory be made to The Westfield Animal Shelter, 178 Apremont Way, Westfield MA 01085 or the (MGH) Massachusetts General Hospital’s Leukemia Research Fund, Attn; Dr. Ballen, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114. Bob’s family thanks everyone at MGH for their excellent and compassionate care.
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