Obituary of Bruce J. Collins

" Belchertown, MA -Bruce J. Collins, 46, of Shea Avenue, died March 23, 2002 in his home. He is the son of the late Herbert Collins. He was born in Holyoke, MA on Sept. 28, 1955. He was raised in Chicopee, and has lived in Belchertown for the past 15 years. He was the owner of Tower Communications Company in Chicopee, where he has been employed for 24 years. He was a member of the United States Coast Guard, a communicant of St. Francis Church, and a member of the Elks Club in Chicopee. Bruce formerly coached youth hockey for the Amherst Hockey Association. He also coached soccer for the Belchertown recreation department and was very active in the Belchertown Stingrays swim team. He was a member of the Reservoir Dawgs running club in Ludlow. He also sponsored and played for Tower Communications in an over 30 hockey league for many years. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Gail A. (Gajewski) Collins, two daughters, Alina Collins of Boston, Lauren Collins of Belchertown and a son, Andrew Collins of Belchertown. He also leaves his mother Donna(Ringuette)Collins,of Chicopee his sister, Sharon Schuerfeld of Franklin, and his father and mother-in-law, Henry and Yvonne Gajewski of Chicopee. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, from 5-8 p.m. at the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home. A memorial mass will take place on Monday, April 1, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. Friends and family are asked to meet directly at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115, Amherst Hockey Association, P.O. Box 200, Amherst, MA 01004, or to Quaboag Valley Hospice, 103 Fairview St., Palmer, MA 01069. "