SCHENECTADY — A socially active man who loved to travel, Lawrence “Larry” Leonard Pisarski, Sr., was a storyteller.

Mr. Pisarski died on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014 at the Stratton Veterans Hospital in Albany, with his family by his side following a battle with kidney cancer. He was 78.

Mr. Pisarski was in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1959.  He proudly served his country and often told stories of his time and travels through Europe.

“I don’t know if it was always truthful or not,” said Cheryl McNamara, one of Mr. Pisarski’s daughters, with a chuckle.

After his time in the military he returned home to the Albany area, residing most of his married life in Altamont and Guilderland.  His marriage of 54 years to Judith (née Hansen) Pisarski ended only with his death.

Mr. Pisarski treasured their dog, Max, a miniature schnauzer, who is still in Mrs. Pisarski’s care.

While in Guilderland, he was an industrial sales manager and contractor for Stonhard Company, a position he kept for many years. 

In the 1980s he opened his own company, Polymer Technologies. Mr. Pisarski never officially retired and enjoyed keeping busy at many small jobs.  He loved interacting with people and traveling.

“My dad loved being involved with people,” McNamara said.

Over the years Mr. Pisarski was a member of many town committees and local organizations.  At the time of his passing he was a member of the following organizations: Nite Owls, Inc., The American Legion, The Fellow Craft Club of Guttenberg Lodge No. 787, Masonic Temple, Albany Zaloga Post No. 1520, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Polish American Club, and Guilderland Elks Club No. 2480, where he was one of the founding members in the 1970s. 

The Pisarski family lived on Maple Avenue in Altamont for many years, McNamara said.

“My dad really liked the community,” she said. “He was very active and social.”

When he was in the hospital, “what he missed the most was being out and about and playing poker with his friends,” McNamara continued.

“He was a good man.”

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Lawrence Pisarski is survived by his wife, Judith (née Hansen) Pisarski; his children, Lawrence L. Pisarski, Jr. and his wife, Joanne, Cheryl McNamara and her husband, Robert, Susan Cavallaro and her husband, Kevin; his seven beloved grandchildren, Willa and Wyatt Pisarski, Erin and Rachael McNamara, Michael, Ryan, and Elizabeth Cavallaro; and many nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his brothers, Edward Pisarski and his wife, Dorothy, of St. Louis, Missouri, and Gerald Pisarski of Schenectady. 

His parents, Adolph and Jean Schreiber, died before him, as did his eldest brother, Richard Schreiber.

Calling hours will be held today, Sept. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ferrari Funeral Home, inside Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union St., Schenectady.  Burial will be on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.

Mourners may leave messages for the family at FerrariFuneralHome.com.

The family would like thank the Veterans Affairs dialysis floor and, over the past few months, its intensive care unit for the care and compassion extended to Mr. Pisarski and his family.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Stratton Veterans Hospital dialysis unit, 113 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208.

— Lisa Nicole Lindsay