JOHN EDWARD SAKOWSKI
GREENFIELD CENTER - John Edward Sakowski, age 79, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. He was born on June 6, 1938 in Brooklyn, NY to the late John & Helen (Zuba) Sakowski. John graduated from Brooklyn Tech High School then joined the United States Air Force in 1958 and was assigned to McCoy Air Force Base in Florida, where he was an Airman 1st Class. He served as a navigator on B-52 and B-47’s and taught survival classes. After leaving the Air Force he worked for New York Telephone Company. On September 15, 1962 he married Helena Novak. Together they had three children. In 1968 John took a job with IBM and moved the family to Saratoga Springs. In 1984, he was transferred to IBM’s East Fishkill, New York facility. There he worked in research and development until his retirement in 1993. In 1996, John and Helena moved back to the Saratoga area, settling in Greenfield Center, where he worked part-time at Allerdice Building Supply. John was an avid sports fan, with the NY Rangers, NY Mets and Brooklyn Dodgers as his favorites, the NY Yankees, not so much. For many years he umpired Little League in Saratoga. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, and watching his kids and grandkids sporting events and activities. He was a member of the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge #161 where he enjoyed marching in their annual Flag Day Parade. Survivors include his beloved wife of 55 years Helena; his brother Thomas Sakowski; three children John (Meghan) Sakowski, Anne-Marie (Michael) Pratt, and Suzanne (Chris) Pitts; six grandchildren, Allison, Andrew, Elizabeth, William, Kaitlyn, and Abigail as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends may call from 4 to 7pm Monday, May 7, 2018 at the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518-584-5373). Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 10:30am and burial with military honors will follow at 12noon at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Rd., Schuylerville. The family would like to thank John’s caregivers, Karen Murdick, Karen Buczkowski, Mary Cook and Chaplain Jeff Palmer from Community Hospice of Saratoga, as well as Dr. White and Dr. Dawson at Saratoga Hospital for their compassion and care during his illness. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s memory to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.