Lt. Edwin E Pysz, RISP, (Ret.) - , RI

(01/05/11) Lt. Edwin Edward Pysz, RISP (Retired, Class of 1947, Badge #46) 85 of West Greenwich, died peacefully Monday, January 3, 2011 at Kent Hospital, Warwick surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of the late Olive I. (Hoxsie) Pysz who passed away on December 5, 2010. They had celebrated their 63rd Wedding Anniversary on November 25, 2010. Born in West Greenwich on the family farm in 1925, he was the son of the late Andrew and Kunegunda Mary (Pilch) Pysz. They had immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1905 and purchased their West Greenwich Farm in 1915. Mr. Pysz graduated from Coventry High School in 1942. Enlisted in the US Navy in 1943 and served as a Gunners Mate 2nd class on the DE-423 USS Dufilho and the DE-329 USS Kretchmer until his honorable discharge in 1946. He graduated from the RISP Training School in 1947. He was appointed a Rhode Island State Trooper on January 16, 1948, promoted to Corporal in 1956, promoted to Sergeant in 1960 and Lieutenant in 1962. He was the only RI State Police Officer ever to attend the officer’s college of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Saskatchewan, Canada in 1964. He graduated from the New England State Police Staff College in 1966 and was Patrol Commander of the Lincoln Barracks at the time of his retirement in 1968. After retiring Mr. Pysz was a Master Charge Security Supervisor for Fleet Bank retiring in 1987. Mr. Pysz was a gentleman farmer. He loved to pickle and give away his hot peppers, pickles, dilly beans and cultivated blueberries. As an avid hunter and fisherman he earned the Biggest Buck award in the State of Maine. He carried on a unique “Swamp Yankee” tradition - the art of smoking river herring “buckies”. He and his son, Paul with the assistance of Town Council President Kevin Breene, secured a State DEM Open Space Conservation Grant in 1987 to permanently preserve the family’s historic farm. The family has vacationed annually at their summer camp in Temple, Maine since the 50’s. They have many Temple neighbors and friend who consider him a native and not a “flatlander”. He is survived by three children, Paul E. Pysz and his wife Charleen of West Greenwich, Sandra R. Pendlebury and her husband Fred of West Greenwich and Andrew W. Pysz and his wife Roberta of Ormond Beach, FL., and a grandson James Pendlebury and his wife Judi of Coventry. He was the brother of the late Eugene Pysz, Mitchell Pysz, Henry Pysz, Walter Pysz, Kamilia Healey and Cecilia Carlow. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home & Crematory, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick. Calling hours Thursday 3:00 – 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers contributions to the West Greenwich Land Trust, 274 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, RI 02817 would be greatly appreciated. Information and condolences at www.carpenterjenks.com.