Robert S. “Bobby” Szklarz, 76, of Leicester, passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2023 with his loving family by his side after a courageous battle with leukemia.

He leaves his beloved wife of 52 years, Marion (Javoronok) Szklarz; his loving children, Matthew Szklarz and his fiancée Heather Gonzales, of Scarborough, ME, Peter Szklarz and his wife Deena (Skowronski), of Sandy Hook, CT, and Stephanie (Szklarz) Conley and her husband Ryan, of Saunderstown, RI; his grandchildren, Ryan, Luke, and Reagan Szklarz, and Callan and Kevin Conley, to whom he was lovingly known as ‘Dziagee’; his brother, Daniel Szklarz and his wife Carmella, of Spencer, his brother in-law Paul Jaworski, his sister in-law Delinda Mercer; along with many nieces and nephews, and several close friends and colleagues. Bobby was predeceased by his sister, Geraldine Jaworski; his brother in-law Michael Javoronok; his cousin, Kenneth Conner, who was as close as a brother; his biological parents, Stanley B. Szklarz and Helen Czajkowski; and his aunt, Adeline (Szklarz) and her husband Irving Conner, who raised Bob after his parents passed at a young age.

He was born, raised, and educated in Worcester, graduating from St. Mary’s High School in 1964. Bobby went on to attain his Associate degree in Journalism from Becker Junior College, a Bachelor’s degree in English from Franklin Pierce College, and a Master’s in Education from Fitchburg State College.

He spent six years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, where he trained at Parris Island and was stationed at Camp Lejeune.

Bobby had an extensive 35-year career as an English Teacher at Worcester Vocational High School where he also coached Varsity Basketball for many years, along with coaching Auburn Middle School Basketball.

Bobby had a strong admiration for his five grandchildren – he got so much joy in all the time they spent together and boasted all academic and athletic accomplishments. Some of his most memorable times with his family were spent at York Beach, Maine, where he vacationed for over 50 years. Bobby especially loved walking Long Sands Beach, even with a stroller in tow!

Bobby had a lifelong love of basketball; as a player, coach, and spectator for his children and grandchildren. He got his start in the game in his backyard, where he learned how to shoot into a peach basket, mounted to a tree and with a wood pallet floor. He spent many nights on the Crompton Park Basketball courts playing in leagues spanning from high school to semi-professional.

His St. Mary’s High School Basketball Team, who came to be known as the ‘Kielbasa Kids,’ won the 1964 New England Championship played at the Boston Garden. During that game, Bobby contributed 21 points including 12 for 12 from the foul line. Bobby went on to play at Becker Junior College, where he scored a total of 1,415 points, and continued his basketball career at Franklin Pierce College, where he amassed another 1,630 points in his 2 years. In the 1968 season at Franklin Pierce, he scored 85 points in a single game prior to the introduction of the 3-point line, awarding him a spot in “Faces in the Crowd” in Sports Illustrated. That same season, he averaged 53.4 points per game, more than Pete Maravich and Elvin Hayes. He still holds 10 scoring records at Franklin Pierce earning him induction into the Franklin Pierce Hall of Fame. Bobby’s basketball achievements also earned him inductions into the St. Mary’s High School Hall of Fame, the Becker Junior College Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and two invitations to join the NBA tryouts!

Bobby will be incredibly missed and lovingly remembered by his family and friends. His family wishes to send a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff at UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus for their care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to UMass Memorial Medical Center – Cancer Center (https://support.umassmemorial.org/).

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the Szklarz family from 2 – 4 PM on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at the BRITTON-WALLACE FUNERAL HOME, 91 Central Street, Auburn. His funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 AM on Monday, April 24, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Church, 189 Oxford Street North, Auburn, with burial to follow at Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Avenue, Paxton.