Note: This is the first in a series of profiles on veterans honored in Easthampton’s military banner program.

EASTHAMPTON — Born in Montague in 1920, Tadeus Glazewski — known by most simply as “Ted” or “Teddy” — was a fun-loving father and grandfather. He loved feeding swans cracked corn, spending time at the bowling alley, and playing with children and animals.

At 22, he entered the Navy, serving just over three years, from 1942 to 1946.

Now, a photograph of Glazewski hangs on a banner in Easthampton as part of a yearly program raising money and honoring local veterans.

“He had such an open and warm, welcoming kind of a personality,” said Sophie Martin, his second youngest daughter. “He was a good listener; he may not have commented or had loads of advice, but he was always there ready to lend an ear.”

While in the Navy, somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Glazewski proposed to his future wife, Helen, by sending her a ring that one of his shipmates had made out of an old dime — a “dime-ond ring,” said his youngest daughter, Mary Glazewski.

In the 1950s, the newlyweds moved to Northampton, where they purchased and established a gas station variety store on Route 5/Mount Tom Road, the original Oxbow Marina. While Helen ran the gas station, Ted worked as a shift supervisor at a paper mill in Holyoke, and he later worked as a custodian at the University of Massachusetts.

Together, the two raised four daughters: Linda Helen, Helen Sophie, Sophie Helen, and — for a surprising name twist — Mary Jane.

“He always washed our hair in the kitchen,” said Mary Glazewski. “He was such a caring parent.”

The sisters grew up plowing snow during the winter, watching television at the gas station, and helping out at the Oxbow docks with their dad.

“And when I had children and I would bring them over to visit, he loved nothing more than just lying on his back in the middle of the floor and having kids crawl on him. He was full of love,” said his second eldest, Helen Marusek.

Glazewski died at the age of 79 on Feb. 13, 2000, and now, his memory is being celebrated as part of Easthampton’s military banner program, which honors around 50 veterans each year with banners hung on poles throughout the city.

Participants pay $150 to sponsor a banner, which is then hung from around Memorial Day until Veterans Day, after which they are free to keep the banner.

Police Sgt. Chad Alexander started the program six years ago, and it has since donated around $15,000 in total to local groups such as the Easthampton Veterans Center and the American Legion, along with Easthampton veterans themselves.

Glazewski’s banner is hung on Park Street across from the now-closed Pepin Elementary School.

“I have changed my route. Now, if I’m going through Easthampton, I now go straight by the Pepin school, and I always make sure that I blow him a little kiss and tell him I love him,” said Marusek.

“He’s got the cutest picture of all the veterans out there,” she said. “But we’re partial,” Martin added with a chuckle.

The banner features an old photograph of Glazewski, one the sisters agree is representative of who he was. In the photo, he squats on the front porch of a relative after he was discharged in 1946.

“He always squatted down and kind of leaned his elbow on his knee and had this big smile on his face,” said Martin. “That is very much him in that photo, very much.”

Marusek’s husband, Paul Marusek, registered Glazewski for a banner as a surprise for the family.

“It’s nice seeing his face up as we drive around town,” said Martin. “He didn’t really talk about his time in the service… I don’t know if it was traumatic to him or not, but he didn’t really say a lot about it.”

“I think just the fact that you had all these men on board this ship, wondering if they’re ever going to make it home someday,” added Mary Glazewski. “I think it was just one of those surreal things.”

The banner program exists in other towns and cities across the country, including Holyoke and Belchertown. Hadley’s Select Board recently approved the banner idea for a new town committee, and may soon adopt a similar program.

“Especially for the young people driving by or walking by, they hear of Veterans Day or Memorial Day and people who have protected the country, but this I think just puts a face and reality to these people,” said Martin.

Maddie Fabian can be reached at mfabian@gazettenet.com or on Twitter @MaddieFabian.]]>