Former classmate Dick Popowski dies at age 62

JAMESTOWN, New York, USA - Dan Beckstrom sent along the sad news that Dick Popowski, a classmate of ours who disappeared from our class around 7th grade or so, has passed away.

Dick Popowski was a friend of mine when we were in 6th grade, as he was with Dan Beckstrom. I lost track of Dick while we were in junior and senior high school until the late 1960s when I ran into him at the Hideaway Restaurant on Fairmont Avenue when I dropped in for a beer.

Dick told me an incredibly funny - and pretty filthy - joke about a dog.

I still tell it occasionally, though my wife is furious when I do tell it in mixed company. (No, not people and dogs...)

I sometimes wonder about other classmates who have disappeared at some juncture. Somehow Dick Popowski led me to thing about a fellow named Dan Ryan... I remember him playing football and also spending part of a season on the wrestling team.

Below is Dick Popowski's obituary from the Post Journal.

Obituary from the Jamestown Post Journal

Richard F. Popowski, 62, of 37 McKinley Ave., Jamestown passed away at 11:14 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 29, 2008) in WCA Hospital after a brief illness.

A life long area resident he was born June 22, 1946, in Jamestown, the son of the late Chester F. and Doris M. Silk Popowski.

Richard attended Southwestern High School and was currently employed by Ohio State Security, Bush Industries.

He loved to spend time with family and friends, and his dog Brandi. He also loved fishing, woodworking, baseball and was an avid Red Sox fan. Richard will be sadly missed by his family and by all who knew him.

Surviving are a sister, Diane Rickard of Pensacola, Fla.; two brothers, Douglas Popowski and Scott Popowski, both of Jamestown; a niece, Robin Curtis of Celoron; a nephew, Randall Rickard of Pensacola, Fla.; and a grandnephew Matthew Rickard.

He was preceded in death by his father on Jan. 4, 1976 and his mother on May 24, 2002.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Falconer Funeral Home. The Rev. Robert Lewis will officiate.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donate to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY 14701.