Felix “Phil” Savickas passed away peacefully on Monday, January 31, 2011 at the VA Hospital in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. Visitation will be held from 9:30 am to 10:30 am on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL. Funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, FL. Interment will be later that day at Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens.
Felix was born on November 28, 1922 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to the late Joseph and Helen Savickas. He raised his family in Colonia, New Jersey, and then retired to live in Ft. Myers, Florida which he called home for 25 years.
He served in the military as an MP in the US Army. He landed on Omaha Beach on the second day of the invasion and guarded prisoners of war in northern France. He worked for Singer Manufacturing in Elizabeth, New Jersey for more than 40 years. He started in packaging, became a machinist, then finally a quality control engineer.
Phil was an active member of the Church of the Resurrection of our Lord, serving for years as an usher and previously was active in the Knights of Columbus. Throughout his life he was an avid sportsman: a basketball center, softball pitcher, tennis player, and fan of Notre Dame sports.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Ethel (Galik) Savickas. He was predeceased by his two brothers Edward and Joseph Savickas.
Felix is survived by his children, Phil Savickas and wife Elaine of Franklin, Massachusetts, and Tom Savickas and wife Shera of Jackson Township, New Jersey. He had 2 grandsons (Ethan and Patrick) and 2 granddaughters (Lori and Stacy), 1 great-grandson (Brayden), and two great-grandaughters (Samantha and Brianne).
Donations in his name can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.
Local arrangments are under the care of the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin. 131 Main St. Franklin .