Frederick A. Kozak

Frederick A. Kozak, age 84 of Somerset passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 1, 2011 in Somerset Ridge Center. He was the husband of M. Jeanne (LaPierre) Kozak to whom he had been married for 58 years.

Born in Fall River, the son of the late Michael and Mary (Radomski) Kozak, he spent his earlier years in Fall River before moving to Somerset in 1960. Mr. Kozak was a 1945 graduate of BMC Durfee High School where he excelled as a student athlete. He played football, basketball and baseball where he was captain of the football team in his senior year, captain of the basketball team in his junior year, All Bristol County in Football and Basketball and All State in the Boston Globe for football.

After graduating from Durfee High School, Mr. Kozak served his country during World War II in the United States Army Air Corp from 1945 until 1947. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army Air Corp, Mr. Kozak enrolled in Brown University, where he once again excelled as a student athlete in both basketball and football. He was Captain of the basketball team his senior year and in his junior year in 1949 he played football with then Captain Joe Paterno, the longtime coach of Penn State University.

Mr. Kozak was employed as the Purchasing Agent for Brown University for 10 years and then became the Purchasing Agent for Raytheon in Portsmouth, RI until his retirement in 1991. He was on the Finance Board, Industrial Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals having served as Chairman in his last year for the Town of Somerset.

Mr. Kozak was a member of the BMC Durfee High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame for both Basketball and Football. He was also a member of both BMC Durfee High School and Brown University Alumni Associations. For over 25 years he was a Football Official having officiated for both high school and college football games.

Surviving in addition to his wife are their five daughters, Kathryn M. Langone and her husband Louis of Townsend, MA, Nancy E. Byrne and her husband Bryan of Hopkinton, MA, Karen M. Turco and her husband Dean of West Yarmouth, MA, Elizabeth A. Roderick and her husband James of Dennisport, MA and Susan J. Kozak of New York, NY; four grandchildren Andrew J. Langone, Sr. M. Gemma Grace M.C., Dean Turco Jr., and Elyza Roderick and several nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late Milton M. and M. Wanda Kozak.

His funeral will be held on Monday, February 7, 2011 at 8am from the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE AT ROSE E. SULLIVAN, 866 County St., Somerset, followed by his funeral mass at 9am in St. Thomas More Church, 386 Luther Ave., Somerset. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 2-6pm. Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to Somerset Ridge Activities Fund, 455 Brayton, Ave., Somerset, MA 02726, Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472 or to the Durfee Bells Preservation Society Inc (DBPS Inc.) PO Box 9235, Fall River, MA 02720.