USA > Massachusetts > The story of western Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 27
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Mr. Borawski is a member of the Northampton Country Club and the Northampton Lions Club, the
Chamber of Commerce of Northampton, and the Pioneer Valley Association. Fraternally he is affi- liated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a communicant of St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church, and a former director of the Northampton Young Men's Christian Association. He is a member of the Northampton Board of In- surance Underwriters, a member and past president of the Hampshire County Board of Realtors and a men- ber and director of the Massachusetts Real Estate Association.
On June 27, 1937, Alexander W. Borawski was married to Mary E. Drondoski of Easthampton, the daughter of Edward W. and Stefina (Kortes) Drond- oski, the marriage taking place at Easthampton. Mrs. Borawski's father, Edward W. Drondoski, is the founder of the Manhan Potato Company, Inc. which he established at Easthampton, in 1925, and moved to Northampton in 1938. Mary E. (Drondoski) Borawski is a graduate of Easthampton High School and a member of the Northampton Women's Club. Mr. and Mrs. Borawski have four children: Robert, born June 24, 1939; Elinor, born November 25, 1941; Elizabeth, born January 15, 1944; and Martha, born April 20, 1948, all at Cooley-Dickinson Hospital in Northampton.
JOHN RANSOM COOK-Recent advances in electronics and specialized developments of radio principles arising from application to wartime use have added immeasurably to the task of the manu- facturer of electric wire and cable. The solution to problems, arising from complex and minute circuits, and power demands unheard of a decade ago, require the engineer's knowledge and skill and raise the fabri- cation of such wires and cables out of the class of business into the professional realm. John Ransom Cook, general manager of the Williamstown plant of the Cornish Wire Company, Inc., is an engineer. He is also an officer veteran of World War II and a per- sonage in the financial and social circles of Williams- town.
The Cornish Wire Company, Inc. was founded in 1919, by Mr. Cook's father. John Cook, who is presi- dent of the corporation with headquarters and several plants at Paterson, New Jersey, devoted to the production of radio and electric wire and cable. In addition to John Cook, the president, who is a resi- dent of Ridgewood, New Jersey, other officers of the enterprise are: W. F. Osler, Jr., vice president, a resident of Leonia, New Jersey; J. C. Stagg, treasurer, a resident of New York City, and J. E. Hoffman, sec- retary, also a resident of New York City.
John Ransom Cook was born January 24, 1917, at Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of John Cook, a na- tive of Allendale, New Jersey, and Elizabeth (Ransom) Cook. Following his graduation from the Ridgewood, New Jersey, High School, he matriculated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechani- cal Engineering. For two years, from 1938 to 1940, he divided his time between the three factories of the company at Paterson, New Jersey, learning all the practical details of production and management. In 1940 he came to Williamstown, as general manager of the plant there, employing some five hundred persons.
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He interrupted his tenure in that office to serve in World War II, as major in the United States Army, from January 31, 1942 to July 15, 1946.
Mr. Cook is one of the incorporators of the Wil- liamstown Savings Bank. He is a member of the Taconic Golf Club and ot Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He is a communicant of the Episcopal Church. His hobby is a two hundred acre dairy farm at Williams- town, to which he devotes most of his leisure time.
John Ransom Cook married, March 21, 1942, at Skowhegan, Maine, Helen H. Cummings, daughter of Willard H. and Helen (Warren) Cummings of Skow- llegan. Mrs. Cook is a graduate of Bennington Col- lege, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of three children: I. Warren C., born February I, 1945, in New York City. 2. Rebecca J., born De- cember 1, 1946, in Bennington, Vermont. 3. John R., Jr., born March 10, 1948, in Boston, Massachusetts.
HARLEY W. GRAY-Prominently known as one of the outstanding figures in the heating and cooking appliances and equipment industries of Springfield, Harley W. Gray has rendered significant contribu- tions toward the business growth and development of his community.
Mr. Gray was born at Providence, Rhode Island, July 14, 1896, son of Harley Warner and Ella Jane (Glenn) Gray. His father, who was born March 21, 1859, was a watchmaker by occupation, and died in November, 1932. His mother was born January 26, 1869, and died in January, 1929.
Harley Gray received his education at the public schools and the Classical High School, and the Bryant- Stratton College, at Providence.
In 1910, Mr. Gray became associated with the Elec- tric Vacuum Cleaner Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, as a salesman. He remained with this firm for seven- teen years during which time he held such respon- sible positions as district manager and branch man- ager. Following his tenure of office with the Cleve- land firm, he became associated with the Electro- master Company in the executive sales department of Detroit, Michigan, remaining in this division of the organization for two years. In 1939, he joined the Burden Bryant Company as manager, and in Sep- tember, 1945. he became its vice president. In October, 1945, he resigned his position and organized the Gray Supply Company in Springfield, becoming its president and treasurer. The firm engages in the wholesale distribution of cooking and heating appli- ances, furnace, boiler, repair parts, and supplies. The enterprise is experiencing substantial success due in no small part to the executive ability of Mr. Gray.
Active in the life of his community, Mr. Gray is a member of the National Protective Repair Associa- tion and the Chamber of Commerce. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious affiliation he is a Bap- tist.
On March 21. 1920, at Brattleboro, Vermont. Harley W. Gray married Ethelwyn Valentine Colvin, daughter of Clarence H. and Edith E. (Aldrich) Colvin. Her father was president of the Colvin Foundry Company until his death in 1938. Her mother is living in Springfield. Mrs. Gray was born February 14, 1896, at Providence, Rhode Island, and attended the public schools of Providence and the Classical High School there. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are the parents of one
child. Glenn Colvin Gray, who was born February 7. 1928, at Hartford, Connecticut, attended the Classi- cal High School and will graduate from the American International College in 1949.
LEON RUDOLPH COHEN-A veteran of World War II who served on various fronts throughout the world, Leon Rudolph Cohen is now vice president of the Vanguard Corporation, Springfield.
Mr. Cohen was born in Springfield on March 5, 1920, the son of Harry and Anna (Wernick) Cohen. His father, now retired and residing in Springfield, formerly owned a large real estate business in that city and operated a chain of theaters under the name of the Winchester Amusement Corporation, which he organized in 1920.
Leon Cohen was educated in the public schools of Springfield, at the Milford Preparatory School and the University of Pennsylvania. He not only received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the university, but afterward studied production engineering in its extension classes. At the university he became a member of Sigma Alpha Mu.
In 1941, Mr. Cohen enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as a cadet and received his training at the Greenville School of Aviation. He was also stationed for a time at Maxwell Field, near Mont- gomery, Alabama, and at Denver. Early in 1943 Mr. Cohen was assigned to the Air Transport Command and flew in continuous service on B-I7s between England and the United States. Subsequently, he was assigned to the African-Persian Area, in which he flew A-20s. From there he was sent to the China- Burma-India Theater of Operations, where he flew C-47s between India and China, after which he was stationed in California. In this latter assignment Mr. Cohen flew between Pacific Coast points and various locations in the Pacific. He was then transferred to the cargo passenger service between Casablanca, in Morocco, to Natal, in Brazil. He also took part in the operations involving Okinawa, and later at Manila and Leyte, from which he evacuated American prisoners and wounded to the United States. By the time he was separated from the service at Westover on February 20, 1946, he had risen to the rank of captain.
Shortly afterward, Mr. Cohen became vice presi- dent of the Vanguard Corporation, with offices at 29 Worthington Street, Springfield. This concern fab- ricates vinyl chloride plastics, into many consumer goods such as toys, packaging etc.
Mr. Cohen worships at the Synagog of Congrega- tion Kodimoh, in Springfield. His home is at 61 Bron- son Terrace, Springfield.
VINCENT J. GENTILE-A business man with varied interests. Vincent J. Gentile finds time to take an important part in welfare life in Springfield, and also is active in many civic movements.
Mr. Gentile was born in Westfield. February 15, 1909, the son of Alphonse and Rose (Spagna) Gentile. His father, born in Italy, died in Springfield Decem- ber 4, 1946. at the age of sixty-six. He was a retail merchant. a Republican and a member of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church. Mrs. Alphonse Gen- tile was born in Italy and died in Springfield February 24, 1940.
W.Mass. IV-13
Thos. 7. Olsam
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Vincent Gentile attended Springfield High School, and the Northeastern School of Commerce and Fin- ance, and was graduated from the Northeastern Law School in 1931, after which he became associated with the C. Pappas Company, Inc., in Boston, importers of groceries, liquors. Beginning as clerk he rose successively to manager and supervisor in Boston, being appointed manager of the Springfield branch in 1933. He now is general manager of the firm's liquor and grocery division. He also is interested in the real estate business, is director of the Security Bank- ing Company of Springfield, is president of the Springfield Boys and Girls Club, is director of the Springfield Community Chest and Council of Local Agencies, and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Springfield Country Club, the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and the Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church. His favorite diversion is golf.
Mr. Gentile married November 25, 1940, Jeannette Thebert, of Springfield, daughter of George and Mae (Smith) Thebert. Her father was born in Malone, New York, and now lives at Fort Covington, New York. He is a retired milk inspector. Mrs. George Thebert, a native of Malone, died at Fort Covington in January, 1947. Mrs. Gentile was graduated from Springfield High School and also attended Simmons College and was graduated from the Springfield Hos- pital School of Nurses, with a Registered Nurse de- gree. She practiced nursing until her marriage. She is a member of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, the Italian Women's Club and other women's organi- zations. Mr. and Mrs. Gentile are the parents of three children: I. Vincent J., Jr., born in 1941. 2. Rose Judy, born in April, 1943. 3. Robert A., born in February, 1948.
ROY T. AHEARN-Only surviving member of a noted family whose names have been associated with the firm of Patrick Ahearn Company, funeral directors in Northampton since 1890, Roy T. Ahearn is carry- ing on this business in accordance with the traditions which have made the firm long recognized and held in high regard. Ethical standards of service, under- standing and sympathy, and the best procedures of business management have contributed to this good reputation, and these qualities Roy T. Ahearn is well prepared to maintain.
The Patrick Ahearn Company opened its doors January 9, 1890, established by Patrick Ahearn and the late Thomas F., his son. Patrick Ahearn married Elizabeth Farrell, and their son Thomas was born in Northampton, April 3, 1870. He spent his entire life in the city of Northampton, and proved himself a public-minded citizen, active in its organizational af- fairs. He was a charter member and honorary mem- ber of the Northampton Lodge, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, a charter member of Northamp- ton Council No. 480, Knights of Columbus, charter member of the Massachusetts Catholic Order of For- esters, and a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. He enjoyed fishing, and was active in fish and game associations of the locality. He was a neighborly man, always of good humor, and of keen native wit, though underneath a serious man sincerely devoted to his work and to significant causes.
Thomas F. Ahearn married, December 31, 1902, Rose L. Reilly of Connecticut. They were the parents of two sons: Robert J., who died in 1941; and Roy T., who at present conducts the business established by his family.
Roy T. Ahearn was born at Northampton, Septem- ber 9, 1907. He graduated from St. Michael's High School in that city before entering Holy Cross College, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1928. He immediately thereafter became asso- ciated with his father in the firm of Patrick Ahearn Company, and has remained there, devoting himself to the development of the business, ever since. He is now the only living member of the family associated with it, since the death of his brother Robert J., who was also a member of the firm, and the passing of his late father. Mr. Ahearn is a member of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, and the National Funeral Directors Association. He is promi- nently identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, being a past exalted ruler, and now trustee of that body. He also belongs to the Catholic fraternity, the Knights of Columbus, and is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. He is vitally interested in community progress, and is a member of the Northampton Chamber of Commerce.
At Northampton, August 8, 1932, Roy T. Ahearn married Margaret Courtney, of Northampton, daugh- ter of Patrick and Mary (Ryan) Courtney. They are the parents of two children: I. Patricia, who was born in Northampton, June 2, 1937. 2. Thomas Joseph, born November 22, 1947.
The late Robert J. Ahearn, brother of Roy T. and a partner in the firm of P. Ahearn Company, morti- cians, was a graduate of St. John's Preparatory School of Danvers, and of the New England School of Em- balming. He entered the firm in 1923 and remained until the time of his death. He married, June 29, 1931, Mary E. Fenton, of Lawrence. Like his brother and his father, Robert J. Ahearn was prominent in the Northampton Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Knights of Columbus.
JOSEPH CLEMENT CHAPDELAINE - A
builder and contractor of Springfield, Joseph Clement Chapdelaine has contributed significantly toward the real estate development of this city.
Mr. Chapdelaine was born May 18, 1889, in Quebec, Canada, son of Clement and Marie Louise (Tarte) Chapdelaine. His father, a native of Canada, engaged in farming activities.
Joseph Clement Chapdelaine received his educa- tion in the country schools of Quebec, and at an early age worked on his father's farm. He continued there until he was twenty years old, at which time he be- came a carpenter at Three Rivers in Quebec. For two years he was engaged in this trade there, but in 1924 he came to the United States and settled at Spring- field. For a short period he remained in the carpenter- ing field. Later he organized his own contracting business and operated the enterprise for a period of years. He started building small houses, but in time was constructing larger dwellings for some of the most prominent residents of Springfield. Within the past few years the trend has been away from the large mansions and toward small homes. Therefore, Mr. Chapdelaine is able to build as many as sixty-
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five houses a year. In addition, he has taken on the construction of other type buildings such as ware- houses and churches, diversifying his work program. In April, 1947, he donated about eighteen acres of the land around Island Pond to the Springfield Park Department. This property, twenty years ago, was part of the Wicks estate, the land was sold to Morris Tucker, and two years prior to its donation to the city was sold again by Mr. Tucker to Mr. Chapdelaine. Mr. Chapdelaine had originally planned to use these acres for real estate development, but its natural beauty caused him to alter his plans, and he has constructed building sites on land adjoining the park property. Throughout the years in which Mr. Chap- delaine has engaged in the construction of homes and in the development of various tracts of real estate within the Springfield region, he has gained an en- viable reputation for his foresight and good business judgment. His undertakings have been highly suc- cessful, and he has done much to modernize and beautify many sections of Springfield.
Active in the life of his community, Mr. Chapdelaine holds memberships in the Building Trades Employers' Association, the Home Builders' Association, and the Chamber of Commerce. In religious belief he is a Catholic, attends St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Springfield, and is a member of the League of the Sacred Heart.
On February 28, 1922, at St. Victoire, Province of Quebec, Canada, Joseph Clement Chapdelaine married Florida Ethier, daughter of Pierre and Em- ilienne (Bourassa) Ethier. Her father was a prominent farmer of St. Victoire. Mrs. Chapdelaine was born at St. Victoire on February 18, 1900, and was gradu- ated from the St. Victoire Convent. Joseph Clement and Florida (Ethier) Chapdelaine became the par- ents of the following children: Roland, born December 5, 1922, and graduated from Cathedral High School; he married Theresa R. La Rose, of Ludlow, and they became the parents of Roland J. Chapdelaine, Jr. 2. Lucille A., born January 2, 1924, and graduated from the Convent of the Presentation of Mary, in Canada. 3. Yvette A., born October 24, 1925, and graduated from the Convent of the Presentation of Mary. 4. Gerard P., born August 1, 1930, and attends Assump- tion High School at Worcester. 5. Robert R., born September 23, 1932, and graduated from St. Joseph's School. 6. Roger L., born October 16, 1934, and attends St. Joseph's School. 7. Theresa J., born June 6, 1939, and attends St. Joseph's School.
GEORGE HAROLD REYNOLDS-As head of a landscape contracting organization founded and conducted with distinction by his late father, George H. Reynolds has an active part in the development of Springfield in many ways.
Mr. Reynolds was born August 3, 1879, the son of Howard Stephen and Martha J. (Davis) Reynolds. His father was born in Springfield September 3, 1855, and died in Springfield in 1926. He was a landscape contractor all his life. He was a Republican and a member of the Asbury Congregational Church. Mrs. Martha (Davis) Reynolds was born in Springfield in 1855 and died there in 1926. Howard S. Reynolds was the son of George and Harriet (Colton) Reynolds. George Reynolds was born in Glendale, and his wife in Longmeadow. They both died in Springfield. He
was a landscape contractor. George Reynolds entered business with Justin Sackett under the firm style of Sackett and Reynolds. Upon the death of Mr. Sack- ett the business became Reynolds and Company. The Sackett and Reynolds firm laid out Forest Park and Hampden Park when it was a bicycle track, and also built the Van Horne Reservoir, which furnished water for the city. It built part of the Athol Railroad and laid out the McKnight District, which was being developed by the McKnight Real Estate Company and many others. George Reynolds, grandfather of George Rey- nolds was the son of Stephen and Sybil (Vinton) Reynolds. Both were natives of Massachusetts and died in Glendale. Stephen Reynolds was a blacksmith. The Reynolds family originated at Kent, England, settling in Rhode Island, later migrating to Connec- ticut and Massachusetts.
George Harold Reynolds attended schools in Spring- field, took a business course at the Childs Business College and became associated with his father in the landscaping business, which he has continued as Reynolds and Company. He is sole owner. Mr. Rey- nolds is a member of the Samuel D. Sherwood Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. His favorite diversion is hunting and fishing.
Mr. Reynolds is married to the former Edna Bart- lett, who was born at Glastonbury, Connecticut, the daughter of George H. and Genie (Matson) Bartlett, both of whom were born at Glastonbury and are de- ceased. Mr. Bartlett operated a large clothing store in Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are the parents of a daughter, Madaline F., who was born in 1917 and attended high school and the Ameri- can International College in Springfield. She married Louis P. Canegallo of Springfield. He is associated with Reynolds and Company. During World War II he served as instructor for three years, with the rank of staff sergeant.
GEORGE WILLIAM RICE-City Treasurer of Springfield since 1932, George William Rice, has been making his contribution to the municipality's progress and welfare through numerous other activities that have made him known throughout the Connecticut Valley. Through his hobbies, he has long been an international figure. In his official life, he is also one of the managers of the David P. Smith Fund of Springfield, which is administered for the benefit of needy, sick children, and is a former member of the Springfield Personnel Commission. A crack revolver shot, Mr. Rice has three times been a member of teams which set world records. Still another hobby is motion picture photography and, a specialist in hunting, fishing and nature films, he has frequently been called on to exhibit these throughout the Con- necticut Valley and in 1946 won first prize in the Valley for the best pictures of the year.
Mr. Rice was born in Springfield on June 15, 1882, the son of George W. and Eva Marie (Bickmore) Rice, and is a descendant of the family of Increase and Cotton Mather, celebrated clergymen and writers whose lives covered the span of years 1639 to 1728 and who were active at Salem at the time of the his- toraic "witch hunts." The Rice family traces its own origins in America to Deacon Edmund Rice, who was born in England in 1594 and came to Massachu-
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setts in 1638, settling at Sudbury. The elder George W. Rice, a real estate agent, was born on August 4, 1853, and was the son of another George W. Rice, who was born in 1823 and who became the founder of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany and the Springfield Five Cent Savings Bank and who died in 1857, at the age of thirty-two. It is through his paternal grandmother, Jane C. (Marsh) Rice, that the present George W. Rice is related to the Mather family. She was a descendant both of John Marshall, who came to American soil from England in 1618, settling at Hartford, and of Timothy Mather, son of Increase and brother of Cotton Mather.
The future City Treasurer of Springfield began his education in the public schools of that city. Follow- ing his graduation from Central High School, he en- tered Northeastern University and in 1922 was gradu- ated with honors, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Commercial Science. In 1901, Mr. Rice began his career as an office boy with the Chicopee National Bank. In August, 1902, he entered the Office of the City Treasurer of Springfield as paymaster. In 1923, Mr. Rice was appointed Deputy City Treasurer and 111 1931 he was elected City Treasurer. He assumed the office on January 4, 1932, and has continually been elected to it since then. From February, 1940, to March, 1942, he served on the Personnel Commission, and for many years he has been one of the executives of the David P. Smith Fund.
In his recreational life, Mr. Rice not only likes re- volver shooting and motion picture photography but hunting and fishing. As a revolver shot, he won fifteen national championships and more than one hundred medals for district and team championships. In 1923, he was a member of the team that set a new world's pistol record-1202. Again, in 1925, he was on the team that raised that record to 1214, where it still stands. In 1930, he was on the team that established a new world's record for the revolver-1131. Not con- tent with prizes and medals in revolver and pistol shooting, Mr. Rice took a photography award in 1946, as previously mentioned. This was awarded by the Pioneer Valley Cinema Club.
Mr. Rice is active in numerous organizations, in some of which he has held important official positions, including the presidency. He is an honorary member of the Springfield Revolver Club and is an instructor for the New England Police Revolver League. He also belongs to the Springfield Speakers Club, the Pioneer Valley Cinema Club, the Amateur Athletic Association of Western Massachusetts, of which he is a director; the Springfield Executives' Club, the Department Heads Association of Springfield, of which he was president in 1945; the Springfield Dis- trict Men's Republican Club, the Massachusetts Col- lectors and Treasurers' Association, the Municipal Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, the Civitan Club of Springfield, of which he has been president and treasurer, and the Springfield Branch of the Alumni Association of Northeastern University, of which he is a member of the board of governors. He is, in addition, a member of Ros- well Lee Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Pi Tau Kappa fraternity.
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