Richard E. Kostek

Hadley, MA-Richard E. Kostek, 75, passed away on January 6, 2024 in Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton after a period of declining health. He was born on December 26, 1948, the son of Joseph and Mary Kostek, and grew up on the family farm. Rich was a lifelong resident of Hadley and was a graduate of Hopkins Academy. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Management at Husson University in Maine.
Rich worked in the waterworks industry for 40 years in both sales and management positions before retiring in 2016. He was known for his wealth of knowledge, honesty and willingness to always go above and beyond for his customers.
Rich was a kind and loving person and a towering yet soft-spoken presence at family gatherings. He had a love of farming and grew both vegetables and tobacco on the family farm for years. Always maintaining a large garden at home, he was happy to share the bounty of delicious vegetables with family and friends, especially his amazing tomatoes.
He was a member of the Hampshire YMCA for many decades and could often be seen touring around the valley on his road bike.
Rich was proud of his Polish heritage and was so happy to be able to tour Poland in 2019 with Carol and over 40 parishioners from Most Holy Redeemer.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Joseph Kostek, in 2021.
He is survived by his wife, Carol (Essex) Kostek of Hadley, brother Eugene Kostek of Florence and his wife Christine, sister Marion Waskiewicz of Amherst, sister-in-law Mary Jane Kostek of Wilbraham, brother-in-law David Essex and his wife Elizabeth White of Peterborough, N.H. and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
CALLING HOURS WILL BE SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 FROM 1:00-4:00 P.M. AT AHEARN FUNERAL HOME, 783 BRIDGE RD. IN NORTHAMPTON. THE FUNERAL WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 15, AT 8:30 A.M. FROM AHEARN FUNERAL HOME WITH A MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL AT 10:00 A.M. AT MOST HOLY REDEEMER CHURCH, 120 RUSSELL ST., HADLEY, BURIAL WILL FOLLOW IN HOLY ROSARY CEMETERY IN HADLEY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the local animal welfare organization of your choice, in memory of Rich’s beloved rescue dogs.