VOORHEESVILLE — Valentine A. Ciupek, a high school athlete, worked a variety of jobs as he and his wife raised two children. He retired as a head account clerk after a 33-year career with the state.

Mr. Ciupek died on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, after a brief illness. He was 96.

He was born in 1925 in Voorheesville, to the late Blazej and Julia Waz Ciupka, who were natives of Poland. He attended Voorheesville schools where he was on the junior-varsity basketball team from 1941 to 1943 and played varsity football in 1943. He was also senior class vice president in 1943 and business manager for the 1943 yearbook.

Upon graduating from high school, Mr. Ciupek, known as Val, went on to take night courses in cost and  corporation accounting and also in calculating, graduating with a commercial degree.

He was a civilian storekeeper for the United States Naval Supply Depot in Scotia from 1944 to 1949. He then owned and operated an Esso gasoline service station at Sharp’s Corners from 1949 to 1951 and drove school buses part-time.

Mr. Ciupek was a cashier for Vogel Trucking Company from 1953 to 1955 and then was employed by New York State, starting as a statistical clerk in the health department in 1955. He then retired in January 1988, after 33 years at the state’s Office of Real Property Services as head account clerk.  

He was an original member of the Voorheesville Men’s Bowling League, which originated in 1949, and remained a member for 60 years. He was also a member of the Guilderland Elks Lodge  2480. And, Mr. Ciupek was an usher for St. Lucy’s Church in Altamont for several years.  

“He enjoyed carpentry and working on his home, vegetable gardening, NASCAR racing, playing weekly poker with his buddies, enjoying trips to the casinos, was a past member of the Altamont Senior Citizens, and loved his candy,” his family wrote in a tribute.

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Valentine A. Ciupek is survived by his son, John Ciupek and his wife, Sherry; by his grandchildren, Gregg Smith and his wife, Elizabeth, Casey Cook and her husband, Eric, Erin Schroeder and her husband, Andy, Amy Ciupek, Allison Bosely and her husband, Daniel; and by his great-grandchildren, Georgia, Kaitlyn, Nathan, Levi, Blue, and Jackson.

His parents, Blazej and Julia Waz Ciupka, died before him, as did his wife of 46 years, June Stephens Ciupek; his daughter, Nancy Ciupek Smith, and her husband, Keith Smith; and his siblings, Frank, John, Anna Ciupek Intrieri, Stephen, Mary Ciupek Walas, and Nellie.  

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 30, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Fredendall Funeral Home at 199 Main Street in Altamont. Interment will immediately follow in St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Altamont Community Food Pantry, 122 Grand Street Altamont, NY 12009, or to the Boyd Hilton VFW Post 7062, 11 Mill Street Altamont, NY 12009.