Walter E. “Wally” Nowak, 69, passed away November 15, 2020 at Baystate Medical Center. Born in Ludlow to the late Edward and Alice (Zawistowski) Nowak, he was a lifelong area resident. Wally served honorably in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam. He served for 12 years as Post Commander of the Polish American Veterans of Wilbraham and past State Commander for the PAV of Massachusetts. He was a member of the Polish American Citizens Club of Ludlow. He was also a member of the International Polka Association and played with several Polish bands throughout the years. For over 35 years, he coached many soccer, baseball, and basketball teams in Indian Orchard, Ludlow, Chicopee, and Holyoke, leading many to championships, including Holyoke Catholic High School’s Western Mass championship. Wally retired after 35 years with the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission where he worked as an administrative assistant. He will be remembered as someone who loved to have a good time and was never afraid to speak his mind.
He leaves his brother, Edward Nowak and his wife Paula of Chicopee, along with many friends.
A public walk-thru visitation will be held for Wally on Friday, November 20, 2020 from 4-7pm at Nowak Funeral & Cremation Services, 15 Ludlow Ave., Springfield. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2020 assembling at 9am at the funeral home and proceeding to Immaculate Conception Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am (church capacity is limited to 100 attendees). Burial will follow at St. Aloysius Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception Church, 25 Parker St., Indian Orchard MA 01151.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Walter E. Nowak, please visit our floral store.