Stanley W. Podesky, FRFD, Ret.

Stanley Walter Podesky

World War II Navy veteran, Fall River Fire Fighter

Stanley Podesky, 98, a proud veteran and fire fighter for 34 years passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 9, 2023.  Stanley was born in Fall River on April 19, 1924, the son of the late Walter and Bertha (Drewniak) Podesky. He went to Durfee High School and graduated in the class of 1941. A year later he was drafted into the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk, VA and later in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He continued to serve in the Naval Reserve after the war and joined the Fall River Fire Department in 1947 and was a driver his whole career. In his free time, he enjoyed playing clarinet and saxophone in a polka band, the Johnnie Sowa Orchestra, playing mostly for the crowd at the Fall River Polish Home. It was during that time he met Johanna (Piela) who was the love of his life. They spent 65 wonderful years together until her death in 2015 at the age of 88.

Although he lived in Fall River, Stanley spent much of his life in Tiverton where his family would go to the beach for picnics when he was young. They would later build a small cottage in the 1950’s in Fogland, where he and Johanna would spend every summer of their retirement fishing for scup and tautog, clamming, quahogging, walking the beach, entertaining his children and grandchildren, and enjoying life. Stanley had a few nicknames: Stash, Stashu, Staz; but the one that suited him best was Smiley. He was always light-hearted, generous and had a contagious smile that will be missed by his whole family and the many friends that he made in his lifetime.

Stanley leaves two daughters: Sandra Pietruska of Fairhaven and JoAnne Carreira of Westport; and two sons: Jay Podesky of Swansea and Jim Podesky of Arlington, MA. “Pops” also leaves four granddaughters, four grandsons, and one great-granddaughter.

 Friends who wish may contribute to Clean Ocean Access, www.cleanoceanaccess.org, 21 John Clarke Road, Middletown, RI 02842.

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