COHOES Jan Tuma, 90, passed away at his home in Cohoes, NY of natural causes. He was born in Belarus, which was part of Greater Poland.
He experienced the severity of W.W.II and it’s aftermath with Communist Russia, which haunted him.
Having to serve mandatory military duty, he was stationed in Estonia with forced labor as mason rebuilding homes.
When he became injured from overwork, he was charged 35 years for Political Treason and sent to the Siberian lumber industry Gulag to serve his time.
There he tailored also for the military assisting him in some reprieve from the harsh conditions of life.
Serving four years at the Siberian Gulag, he had the fortune of being released as a political prisoner with Stalin’s death; one of 2 million political prisoners.
Sponsored by his half-brother, Joseph Tuma, he went to the heart of Poland.
There he met Felicja Romanowska and they wed.
With his wife and 2 daughters, they came to America sponsored by a cousin, Ignas.
A mason by trade, Jan worked with the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Union in many projects throughout the area, including the South Mall in Albany, as well as, Albany’s oldest church.
He is listed in Albany’s Historic Society of Restoration, and also worked on many private homes on State St and others.
Jan promoted Education as an important aspect of offering a better life for his 2 daughters, and 2 grandchildren supporting all through colleges, university, and professional academic institutions.
He grew an annual vegetable garden for over 50 years. In his later years, his hobby was recycling bottles, cans, & metals.
Jan is survived by his wife Felicja Tuma; by his daughters, Grace Tuma and Jeanine Loya (Andy); by his grandchildren, Andrea Loya (Dennis Prudhomme, Jr.) and Patrick Loya (Sarah); and by his great grandchildren, Colin and Lucas. He is also survived by his extended family in Europe.
Funeral services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 105 Vliet Blvd., Cohoes.
Interment will follow in St Michael’s Cemetery, Waterford.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael’s Church, 20 Page Ave., Cohoes or your local Animal Shelter.