Clarence S. “Chuck” Graczyk of Danvers, MA passed away peacefully on June 19, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was 96 years old.

        Chuck was born in Salem, MA on November 5, 1927 to Stanislaus and Stanislawa (Drankowski) Graczyk, the youngest of six children. A first generation American, Chuck was proud of his Polish heritage and often spoke fondly of his largely Polish neighborhood, centered around his home on Derby Street where he was born and raised. In his youth he loved swimming and gathering mussels at Pickering Wharf, playing baseball at Gallows Hill Park, and sailing his beloved “snipe” boat, the “X-cuse Me,” around Salem Harbor. He worked jobs trimming coal and delivering fruit to help support his family during the Great Depression and while three of his brothers were overseas fighting in World War II; he also was the primary caretaker to his bedridden mother for a number of years. He attended St. John the Baptist Grammar School and Salem High School, graduating in 1944 at the age of 16.

        From an early age, Chuck also developed a passion for woodworking and teaching, becoming a youth woodworking instructor at the House of the Seven Gables. It was here he met his future wife, and absolute love of his life, Gladys (“Glady”). Chuck convinced Glady to give him swimming lessons — despite the fact that he was already a perfectly capable swimmer — and they began dating. Their love blossomed at the Salem Willows, where they spent many a night dancing to big band and swing music. They married in April 1953. Less than a week before the wedding, Chuck was hospitalized with appendicitis and received emergency surgery. However, he was not to let anything get in the way of marrying Glady; he was discharged from the hospital on the morning of the wedding and took part in the proceedings as planned.

        Chuck continued his education at the Beverly Cooperative Trade School in partnership with the United Shoe Machinery Corporation, receiving training that would prepare him to work for United Shoe. However, his technical prowess and work ethic caught the attention of future US Deputy Secretary of Defense, Donald J. Atwood, who recruited Chuck to work for his new company, Dynatrol Corporation. He then worked for AC Electronics (a division of General Motors) and MIT’s Instrumentation Laboratory (later renamed Draper Lab), while also taking classes at night to earn a degree in electrical engineering from Merrimack College. Much of his work centered around the creation of inertial guidance and navigation systems, a critical component of spaceflight technology. During the years of the Space Race, Chuck and his team served a crucial role; this culminated in the development of the guidance system that was to be used in the first successful Apollo mission. He worked for the Draper Lab until his retirement in 1989, and went on to work in realty for Carlson Real Estate in his retirement.

        Throughout his entire life, Chuck’s proclivity for creating and building never ceased. He was especially fond of woodworking and carving, crafting everything from musical instruments to dining room tables to Christmas ornaments and decorations for his family. Perhaps his most astounding work, though, was designing and building a home on Birch Hill Road in Danvers, while continuing to work full time and raising a growing family. This was where he and Glady would raise their five children, and was the place they would call home for the next 52 years.

        Chuck was the definition of a lifelong learner. He was constantly discovering new interests; when a new topic or activity piqued his attention, he would sign up for a course, or visit the library to pick up books and manuals on the subject. In this way he explored such diverse interests as photography, oil painting, tai chi, yoga, and raising orchids. He could fix anything; solve any puzzle. He was also a lifelong educator and leader. He was a fixture at local senior centers throughout the North Shore, carving and woodworking alongside his peers. Chuck co-founded the booster club at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers while his eldest son, Carl, was on the football team. He coached Little League baseball for all of his sons’ teams, and will be fondly remembered as “coach” by many who grew up in the area. He loved sports — any sport that happened to be on TV — but especially his local New England teams. Most of all, he loved cheering on and supporting his family. He attended nearly every game, meet, practice, recital, concert, and graduation for all of his children, which then continued with his grandchildren.

        At the center of Chuck’s life was his faith. This was exemplified by such sublime moments as meeting Pope John Paul II, but mostly by the many, many, less outwardly glorious moments: serving as an altar boy in his youth, or attending Mass every Sunday, then nearly every single day through much of his later life. He was a proud member of the St. Mary of the Annunciation parish for 71 years, from the time he moved to Danvers in 1953.

        Perhaps the only thing as integral to Chuck’s life as his faith was his family. He adored his wife — enjoying 64 years of blissful marriage together until her passing in 2016 — and all of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved selflessly and was always eager to lend a helping hand. Whether he was known as Clarence, Chuck, Dad, or Dziadzi, he was a beacon of goodness and light in all of our lives. He will be sorely missed.

        Chuck was predeceased by his beloved wife, Gladys (Ouellette) Graczyk, and beloved first son, Carl Graczyk. Chuck is survived by his four children: Debra and her husband John Galanis of Ipswich, Rona and her husband Leonard Femino of Beverly, Scott and his wife Michelle Graczyk of Gloucester, and Steven Graczyk of Danvers; his seven grandchildren: Alyssa and her husband Mitchell Noah, Willem Galanis, Britta Galanis, Carla Femino, Allyse and her husband Justin Jenkinson, Ana Graczyk, and Carl Graczyk; his three great-grandchildren: Max Noah, and Julian & Jackson Jenkinson; and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Ed, Frank, Al, Ted Graczyk, and Sophie Foley.

All are kindly invited to a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated for Chuck on Tuesday, June 25 at 11am at St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish, 24 Conant Street, Danvers, MA. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem, MA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Carl A. Graczyk '72 Fund at St. John's Prep.

Gifts can be made online (see the link below) or checks can be mailed to St. John's Preparatory School, Attn: Advancement, 72 Spring St., Danvers, MA 01923