Obituary of Charles F. Hajduk

Charles F. Hajduk, 63, of 28 Vinnie St. Jamestown, died at 8:39 a.m. Wednesday (April 28, 2010) in the Emergency Room at WCA Hospital. He was born June 21, 1946 in Buffalo, NY the son of Edward S. and Irene Zwolenkiewicz Hajduk. Charles was a US Air Force veteran serving from 1966 until 1970 as a Staff Sergeant and Crew Chief for the C141A Aircraft. After his discharge, he joined the Springbrook Volunteer Fire Department. From 1972 until 1974, he worked as a 911 Dispatcher for the City of Jamestown. In 1974, he joined the Jamestown Fire Department, was promoted to Lieutenant in 1981, Captain in 1986, Assistant Chief in 1987, and was appointed Fire Chief in 1992, retiring in 1998, after serving as Chief for Mayors Seymour, Kimball, and Teresi. Following retirement, he worked at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena. Charles was a graduate of the Fire Science Program at Erie Community College and taught Fire Science at Jamestown Community College and was also a New York State Fire Instructor at the Fire Academy in Montour Falls, NY. He served as a member of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) Board of Directors from 1997-2009 and was president of the association from 2007-2008. Before joining the board of directors, he served the association as a member of the Career Chiefs and Life Safety Committees. In June 2009, he began serving on the NYSAFC Nominations & Elections Committee. He joined NYSAFC in 1973 and was a life member. He was a member of the Morton Club; the Chautauqua County EMS Council; Southwestern Regional EMS Council; past board member of the Western Regional Emergency Medical System; and past board member of the Chautauqua County Chapter American Red Cross. Surviving are his mother of Buffalo; his wife, Barbara Spink Hajduk whom he married June 24, 1972; two daughters, Angi Rizzo of Forestville, NY; Mary Hajduk of Jamestown; a granddaughter, Sharyl Rizzo of Forestville; a grandson, Edward Charles Hajduk of Jamestown; a brother, Thomas Hajduk of Manassas, VA; two sisters, Darlene Marshall of Orangeville, NY; and Anne Marie Mc Greevey of Batavia, NY. He was preceded in death by his father. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Lind Funeral Home. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery. The family will receive friend from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.