William “bill” Smigielski

The death last week of former Parks Commissioner William “Bill” Smigielski is a great loss for the city and for all of us who knew him and who admired him.

Mr. Smigielski came up in this city and finally came to rule the roost in his own city hall domain after many years of hard work.

Being the Parks Commissioner in Chelsea was never an easy job as there were so few parks and so many wanting to use them. He had to be a magician of sorts just to keep the grass green and the trash barrels emptied but he did it and he loved it.

He was a World War 11 Army veteran and a longtime baseball umpire and a member of the NE AAU Umpires Association.

He was another example of a Chelsea man who loved this city and his lifelong association with it.

His wife Catherine, the love of his life, shared 62 years of marriage together – and they were a team.

Our condolences to the family of Bill Smigielski and especially to Catherine.

We knew him well. To know him was to like him.

He will be missed.

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