Alfred E Chrzan, 86, of Vero Beach, West Hartford, Conn., and Huntington, Mass., passed away on July 20, 2015.
He joined his wife of 61 wonderful years Jahala R Chrzan, in eternal rest, peacefully and surrounded by many members of his loving family.
Born in Wallington, N.J. on Aug. 10, 1928 to the late Stanley Chrzan and Mary Popek, Chrzan lived in Western Massachusetts for most of his early life. While living in Huntington, he and Jahala met in the fifth grade and began their lifelong love affair.
Chrzan attended Huntington High School, which was followed by two years of active duty service in the Marine Corps with service in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and North Atlantic where he attained the rank of Sargent. Following his honorable discharge in September 1948, he and Jahala were married in October.
Chrzan attended Springfield College where he earned his BS and MS degrees in 1952 and 1953 respectively. He supported Springfield College throughout his life. He completed clinical training in rehabilitation at Leeds Veteran’s Hospital and then student teaching at Sedgwick Middle School in West Hartford, Conn. He took a position as science and physical education instructor at Somersville Junior High School in 1953 where he taught until 1956. He became president of the Somers Teachers Association and held that position during a revolutionary period in the town’s history. He taught for a short time in West Springfield in 1956 before he was offered a position teaching science in West Hartford, Conn., where he spent the remainder of his 35 year career teaching first at Alfred Plant Junior High School and then Conard High School from which he retired in 1988. He served as Head of the Science Department during his tenure.
In addition to regular teaching duties, Chrzan co-led student educational trips for several years to Bermuda and camping throughout New England and spent many summers working in programs for developmentally challenged students. Throughout his career he was active in the National Education Association of which he was a lifetime member.
In 1957 he began a second, simultaneous career at Hartford College for Women as the Director of Buildings and Grounds where for 23 years he maintained the college as if it were a beautiful, private park. He was a lifetime member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.
He is survived by his children, Alfred S Chrzan of Vero Beach, Jahala L Chrzan of West Hartford, Conn., Paul A Chrzan of Huntington, Mass., and Donald S Chrzan and fiancée Norma Reyes of East Hartford, Conn.; his grandchildren Jahala S Dufort and Sara J Dufort of West Hartford; his friend and companion Annette Fontaine of Vero Beach; his brothers Stanley Chrzan of East Longmeadow, Mass., and Donald Chrzan of Sebastian; and several cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends.
His son Jeffrey Allen Chrzan and grandson Morgan Allen Dufort predeceased him.
An internment and memorial service celebrating the lives of both Alfred and Jahala Chrzan will be held at the St Thomas Catholic Cemetery on Route 20 in Huntington, Mass. on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 11 a.m. The family welcomes family and friends who would like to join the celebration there and at the family homestead in town. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent in the names of Alfred and Jahala Chrzan to the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, 10 Columbus Boulevard, 8th Floor, Hartford, CT 06106 where the family will be setting up a scholarship fund in their name. Arrangements are being managed by the O’Brien Hilltown Funeral Home, 27 Russell Rd, Huntington, MA 01050.