Leo J. Golash Jr.: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice Union-News (Springfield, MA) - Thursday, November 15, 2001 Deceased Name: Leo J. Golash Jr. 2001 WASHINGTON, D. C. - Leo J. Golash, Jr., a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army reserve, died recently in Washington, D.C. at the age of 82, after a long illness. He was born on July 8, 1919 in Northampton, Mass., and was a 40 year resident of Springfield, Mass. General Golash enlisted in the Army in June of 1941 and entered basic training at Fort Lee, Virginia. He attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry, and was assigned to the 71st Infantry Regiment of the 44th Division at Ft. Lewis, Washington. From May 1943 to November 1944, he served with the same regiment in the U.S. and overseas in Europe when he was captured. He was a prisoner of War in Germany until January of 1945 when he escaped and made his way through the Russian lines, eventually obtaining passage from Odessa on the Black Sea to Naples, Italy where he was repatriated in March 1945. During this time, BG General received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal and the WW II Victory Medal. Following the way, Golash joined the Army Reserve in Springfield, Mass. holding various assignments and continuing his military education. He was promoted to Brigadier General in June 1974, when he was assigned as the Commanding General 187th Separate Infantry Brigade, Boston, Mass. As a reservist, Golash received the Armed Forces Medal and the Reserve Forces Achievement Medal. As a civilian, he was employed as a representative of the Veterans Administration in Boston, Northampton, and Pittsfield, Mass., from which he resigned in 1950 in order to complete his college degree requirement at American International College in Springfield, Mass., graduating with a BS in Business Administration in June 1953. He continued his studies at the University of Massachusetts, graduating with a MBA in 1955. Brigadier General Golash went on to own and operate general insurance agencies in Springfield, Easthampton, and Chicopee. In addition to holding various civic and community positions as Trustee and President, Golash taught Insurance and Risk Management at AIC. He was a communicant of Our Lady Rosary Parish in Springfield, and a member of the St. Stanislaus Society and Jan Soblieski Society. In 1999, General Golash and his wife moved to Knollwood, an army retirement community residence in Washington, D.C., where he died. Besides his wife of 53 years, the former Sabina H. Orlinski of Holyoke, Mass., he leaves two brothers, Eugene Golash of West Springfield, Mass., and Stanley Golash of Hadley, Mass.; six children, Susan Carr of Silver Spring, MD., Kenneth Golash of Chicopee, Mass., Alan Golash of Newport, R.I., Christopher Golash of Orange, Mass., Leo Golash of Chicopee, Mass., and Stephen Golash of Portland, Maine.; and several grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. General Golash will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. A private memorial service will be held in Springfield at a later date. Donations can be made to Sunshine Village, 75 Litwin Lane, Chicopee, MA 01020, or to the Army Distaff Foundation, 6200 Oregon Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20015, in his name.