CHATHAM, MA – William J. Bogdanovich, Sr., 80, died peacefully at Liberty Commons in Chatham on February 5, 2014. He was the husband of the late Barbara (Niznik) Bogdanovich, to whom he was married for 43 years. He was born in Holyoke, MA on November 10, 1933, the son of the late Frank and Olga Bogdanovich.He attended vocational school in Chicopee, moving to Westfield when he married, and was employed by the American Abrasives Company on Union Street for over 30 years. He enjoyed many summers on Misquamicut beach in Rhode Island before moving to Cape Cod in 2000. An avid fan of the Polka, he and Barbara danced to the classic bands that toured Western Massachusetts and Connecticut through the 1970’s and 1980’s. Baseball proved to be a lifelong passion, in his youth as a hitter who’d have challenged Big Papi, and in his retirement, enjoying Cape League games and most recently reveling in the Red Sox World Series win this past fall.
A man of many nicknames, “Grampa.” is survived by his son, Bill, his daughter-in-law Sherry and his granddaughter, Lara all of Brewster. “Willy B.” is survived by his sister, Helen Pycko of Ludlow, while “Stosh” is survived by brothers, Philip Bogdanovich of Ludlow, George Bogdanovich and his wife Donna of Ashford, CT, and Frank Bogdanovich and his wife Sandra of Chicopee, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by two brothers, Michael and Hank, and three sisters, Kay Cyran, Rose Barnard, and Betty Chandler.
He was specific in his wishes that there be no calling hours, and that the funeral service be kept as simple as possible, but that family and friends be invited to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company in the same way that he always enjoyed seeing everyone together.
A graveside committal service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 22nd at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Westfield, and be followed at 12:00 noon by a celebratory gathering at the Westwood Restaurant on Union Street to which all are invited. On Cape Cod, friends are invited to celebrate similarly on Wednesday, February 26th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Chatham Wayside Inn on Main Street in Chatham.
There are many professionals at the Davenport-Mugar Cancer Center at Cape Cod Hospital, Broad Reach Hospice and Liberty Commons in Chatham whose care and compassion made even the biggest challenges seem conquerable. Words here cannot begin to express the depth of gratitude for what you all seem to do so easily every day.
Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers may be made to the Chatham Rotary Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 436, Chatham, MA 02633. For online condolences, please visit
www.nickersonfunerals.com.
A man of many nicknames, “Grampa.” is survived by his son, Bill, his daughter-in-law Sherry and his granddaughter, Lara all of Brewster. “Willy B.” is survived by his sister, Helen Pycko of Ludlow, while “Stosh” is survived by brothers, Philip Bogdanovich of Ludlow, George Bogdanovich and his wife Donna of Ashford, CT, and Frank Bogdanovich and his wife Sandra of Chicopee, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by two brothers, Michael and Hank, and three sisters, Kay Cyran, Rose Barnard, and Betty Chandler.
He was specific in his wishes that there be no calling hours, and that the funeral service be kept as simple as possible, but that family and friends be invited to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company in the same way that he always enjoyed seeing everyone together.
A graveside committal service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 22nd at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Westfield, and be followed at 12:00 noon by a celebratory gathering at the Westwood Restaurant on Union Street to which all are invited. On Cape Cod, friends are invited to celebrate similarly on Wednesday, February 26th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Chatham Wayside Inn on Main Street in Chatham.
There are many professionals at the Davenport-Mugar Cancer Center at Cape Cod Hospital, Broad Reach Hospice and Liberty Commons in Chatham whose care and compassion made even the biggest challenges seem conquerable. Words here cannot begin to express the depth of gratitude for what you all seem to do so easily every day.
Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers may be made to the Chatham Rotary Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 436, Chatham, MA 02633. For online condolences, please visit
www.nickersonfunerals.com.
