David F. Waskiewicz

David F. Waskiewicz, 68, of 66 Orchard Lane, E. Templeton, died peacefully Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in HealthAlliance Hospital, Leominster, following a six year battle with cancer.
David was born in Gardner on July 28, 1946, the son of the late Frank and Josephine (Kaminski) Waskiewicz.
He graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1964, and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he studied Engineering and Business Management.
David served his country honorably for 6 years with the United States Army Reserves. He was discharged with the rank of SSG, and also received special training as a loadmaster for moving infantry troops and equipment aboard C-130 and C5A Aircraft.
David was the President and CEO of Rodney Hunt Company of Orange, MA, and was also a Director of G.A. Industries, Inc. of Cranberry Township, PA, which was the merged partner company since 1995.
Founded in 1840, Rodney Hunt Company, Inc. engages in the design, engineering, manufacture, casting, fabrication, machining, and assembly and testing of cast and fabricated valves, gates, and actuator systems for the control of water and wastewater in municipal, hydropower, agriculture, and industrial environments in the United States and internationally, with products installed in 48 countries on 6 continents.
David's 41 year career with Rodney Hunt Company began in 1967 in the Engineering Department. In 1971, he was promoted to Estimator in Water Control Equipment Sales Division. He was promoted to Manager of Water Control Equipment Sales in 1978. In this position he was responsible for overall sales activity, both domestic and foreign, with special emphasis on the development of fabricated gate equipment division. In December of 1980, he was promoted to Director of Manufacturing, responsible for directing the entire manufacturing operation of the company, including Foundry, Fabrication, Machining, Maintenance, Shipping, Materials Control, and Industrial Engineering. David became President and CEO in 1991, a position which he held for 17 years until his retirement in 2008.
Throughout the 1970's and very early 1980's David was also an equal partner in K & W Truck Equipment Co. of Gardner, with his uncle. This business not only sold and installed Fisher snow plows and truck equipment, but performed various forms of limited snow removal work for Mass Electric and others. As time went on, David chose to give Rodney Hunt Company his total attention.
David was a member of Holy Cross Church of E. Templeton. He was a Life Member of the Elks Lodge 1426 of Gardner, Life Member of the Templeton Fish and Game Club, member of the Historical Construction Equipment Association, Northeast Rockbusters Chapter, member of the American Truck Historical Society, member of Ridgely Country Club and was a member of Harley Owners Group.
He was past Vice President of Membership of the Boston Chapter of the Planning Forum, past member of the Business Advisory Council for the University of Massachusetts School of Management, past member of the Foundation's Board of Directors for Mount Wachusett Community College. He also served on the board of Directors for Hospital Cottages for Children d.b.a. Baldwinville Nursing Home.
His hobbies revolved around mechanical devices such as boats, motorcycles, airplanes, heavy construction equipment, especially antique trucks. David also drag raced cars in New England and NY during his younger years. He cherished his 1939 GMC truck and attended a number of National truck shows. During the last fifteen years he also enjoyed flying co-pilot to Board meetings from Orange, MA to Pittsburg, PA with the late Bill Mahr of Orange in Mr. Mahr's twin engine Piper Aztec. Since his retirement, David loved working with his son, both at home and with his son's contracting and construction business, Demadale Ridge Inc., of Templeton.
He treasured spending time with his family, especially his two granddaughters, and he loved riding his Harley Davidson.
David leaves his wife of 45 years, Antonine F. "Tina" (Swercewski) Waskiewicz of E. Templeton; one son, Jon D. Waskiewicz and his wife Julie of E. Templeton; one sister, Estelle (Waskiewicz) Haverty and her husband James of Gardner; brother-in-law, David Swercewski and his wife Ellen (Walsh) of Preston, CT; two grandchildren, Devan and Dayna Waskiewicz; three nephews, Michael Haverty of Olathe, KS, Robert Swercewski of Beacon Falls, CT and Michael Swercewski of Philadelphia, PA; two nieces, Karen Graves of Gardner and Katherine Demeray of Philadelphia, PA; and several cousins.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, December 16th from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner with a Mass at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Cross Church, 25 Lake Avenue, E. Templeton.
Calling hours will be Monday, December 15th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center, HealthAlliance Hospital-Burbank Campus, 275 Nichols Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420.
David fought lung cancer from the time of his retirement in 2008 until his passing. A special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Leominster HealthAlliance Hospital, and especially the Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center of HeathAlliance Hospital in Fitchburg and Dr. Madhavi Toke and staff that cared for David for 6 continuous years.
David is now on his highway to heaven...

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