March 13, 1932—Oct. 27, 2009

John S. Kubiak, a longtime West Seneca pharmacist, died Tuesday in Veterans Affairs Medical Center of complications from multiple sclerosis. He was 77.

Mr. Kubiak was owner and president of Cy’s Clinton Pharmacy on Clinton Street near Union Road for 30 years before retiring due to illness in 1991.

Prominent in the town business community, he is remembered for his dedication to customers and for sponsoring many championship teams in the West Seneca Youth Baseball Association. When trophies won by those teams were lost in an arson fire that leveled the pharmacy in 1974, he placed a pennant for each championship on the walls of the rebuilt store.

Born in Lackawanna, he was a 1949 graduate of St. Francis High School, where he was football co-captain and lettered in track. In 1951, he was a member of St. Bonaventure University’s last football team, whose quarterback, Ted Marchibroda, went on to play in the American Football League and coach in the National Football League.

Mr. Kubiak was a Navy chief petty officer and hospital corpsman before returning to complete his pharmacy studies at the University of Buffalo. He was a fan of the Bills and Sabres and a frequent traveler.

Survivors include his wife, the former Carol A. Kosinski; three sons, John E., Joseph and Robert; a daughter, Kathleen Casper; and three brothers, Leonard, Thomas and Paul.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a. m. Saturday in Fourteen Holy Helpers Catholic Church, 1345 Indian Church Road, West Seneca.