Alexander E. "Turk" Turczynski

GARDNER – Alexander “Turk” Turczynski, Jr., 93, of Gardner died Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at home. He was born in Gardner on March 3, 1921 the son of Alexander E. and Helen Z. (Zachiewicz) Turczynski.  He grew up in Gardner and graduated from Gardner High School with the class of 1940. Turk was the oldest living former Gardner High football co-captain and was running back of the 1939 Wildcats. He later played semi-pro football for the Gardner Merchants from 1945-1948. During the glory years of Gardner High Football in the 1950s and the 60s, he would give free hair cuts to the Wildcat football players if they beat Fitchburg and Leominster during the same season.  He was inducted into the GHS Athletic Hall Of Fame in 1994. Mr. Turczynski was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. He worked at Florence Stove and was a reserve Police Officer for the City of Gardner for many years.  He opened his first barber shop in 1953 and continued it to present day with his son at Turk's Barber Shop in downtown Gardner. Recently, Turk was the featured on Fox 25 "Zip Trip" when the TV station made a stop in Gardner over the summer.   He was a member of the Gardner Senior Citizens, a former member of the Gardner Elks and the Gardner American Legion.  He was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church. Turk enjoyed shooting pool and was quite a pool shark.  He loved summers at the "camp" in Seabrook Beach, NH with family and friends.  His greatest enjoyment was watching is grandchildren play sports and spending time in the barbershop with his customers. "Turk the Barber" was always quick with a joke or mind teaser and enjoyed mesmerizing kids of ages with his magic tricks.  It was a right of passage in Gardner for fathers to bring their sons to Turk's for that old school barbershop experience.  Everyone who had their "ears lowered" left with a clean-cut look and piece of bubblegum or a Lindt Chocolate. He leaves his son; Alexander E. “Brother” Turczynski and his wife Betsy of Gardner; two grandchildren Tracy Turczynski and her spouse Tanya Howard of Glocester, Rhode Island and John Turczynski of Gardner. He was predeceased by his wife Virginia T. (Marrone) Turczynski and by a son Edward Turczynski. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church 166 Cross St., Gardner.  Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Mack Funeral Home 91 Vernon St., Gardner. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Gardner Senior Center, 294 Pleasant St., Gardner, MA  01440 or the Gardner High School Athletic Hall Of Fame c/o  Mike Richard at 101 Temple St., Gardner MA 01440. $(document).ready(function(){ });