Bernard "Bernie" Kaczkowski

ROTTERDAM - Bernard “Bernie” Kaczkowski, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, November 27, 2023, with his family by his side. He was born on May 24, 1944, in East Orange, NJ, to the late Barney and Helen Dombrowski Kaczkowski. Raised in Scranton, PA, and then in Schenectady, Bernie was a graduate of Mont Pleasant High School. Thereafter, he worked as a draftsman for General Electric where he accomplished two patents.  In 1976, Bernie bought Weidman & Son’s Garage and successfully operated it as “Bernie’s Garage” until his retirement in 2009.  After selling his business, Bernie stayed continuously busy doing all of the things he loved the most including expanding his home machine shop, completing several home renovations, and forever perfecting his custom-built street rod. Bernie was a long-standing member of the G.E. Apprentice Club, an original member of the Tri-City Flywheelers, and a founding member of Capital Area Rods.  He could build ANYTHING and had an answer to EVERYTHING – whether you asked him or not.  Bernie was an incredible storyteller, the ultimate collector and his greatest pastime was wheeling and dealing.  He loved car shows, swap meets, auctions and driving loved ones to their special events in style. In addition to his parents, Bernie was predeceased by his wife Cheryl, and brothers Tony and David Kaczkowski.

He is survived by his fiancé, Mary Beth Ogden-Lewis; children, Lynn (Morris) Fiorillo, Lisa (Jon) Newcomer, Theresa (Chris) LaBreck, James (Kim) Jones, and Christopher Jones; grandchildren, Nicholas and Morgan Fiorillo, Jackson and Abram Newcomer, Jonathan (Julie) Mooney, Stephanie Jones, Joshua and Brian Jones; great grandchild Lucianna Fiorillo; sibling, Barbara Benson; and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, November 30th from 8am to 10:30am at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 1605 Helderberg Ave, Rotterdam, followed by Mass at the Church of St. Adalbert at 11am. He will then be interred in St. Adalbert’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org). Condolences can be posted at demarcostonefuneralhome.com.