Whatley, MA – Formerly of Chicopee, born to Stephen Kloc, Sr aka “Red” and Anne Storey both of Chicopee Steve aka “Butch”, passed away Thursday Oct. 8th at Baystate Hospital due to a short illness. He was born in Chicopee where he lived for a short while.
In 1948 his family bought the former Williams House in Williamsburg, where the family resided in the late 1940’s into the mid 1950’s. After selling the restaurant, his family moved to Northampton. His father opened The Rainbow Club, in Haydenville, which was a dining and nightclub establishment. Steve started to experiment in the kitchen as a teen, and was a dishwasher there, while he attended Northampton High School.
Steve started to take golf lessons from Golf PGA Pro Bob Toski and then joined the Northampton Golf team with his best friend and future brother in-law Don Wilson. While he was busy as a young student, the Rainbow Club suffered a devastating fire.
In 1958, he married Frances P. Vayda of Williamsburg and joined the Army. Serving his country, he did his basic training in New Jersey, served in Michigan, spent 1 year in Korea. He was then stationed at Fort Stuart, Georgia, where they had their 1st son Stephen Kloc, III.
When his tour was up, he moved his small family back to Northampton, Ma. and he started working as a bartender at Alexanders Restaurant, and My Place Tavern. After a couple years, he started working for his father, at The Whately Inn. He and Frances added 2 more sons to the family, Kevin and Gary.
At that time, he was playing a lot of golf, winning 3 championships in 1 year at Beaverbrook, Hickory Ridge and Northampton Country club. Steve and his friend Ray (Sluggo) Magdalenski won a 4-ball tournament at Northampton Country Club that he was very proud of.
They were all living and working at The Whately Inn 1963 to 1971, when his father sold the Inn. Steve was devastated, as it was his dream to raise his family there.
Steve opened “The Liquor Mart”, but he really wanted to get back to the restaurant business, so he and his lifelong friend Bob Czelusniak opened the Captain’s Table on Damon Rd, in Northampton. After 4 successful years, they sold, parting ways to strike out to new adventures.
Steve moved to the Cape and worked at the Orleans Inn, after a few years there, he moved back to Northampton and started to work under the tutelage of Chef Francois, at The Delaney House, where he really honed his passion for cooking. He heard the Whately Inn was for sale, and within 2 years he purchased it. After some tough years of hard work and remodeling, he was able to reopen the Inn, with his three sons at his side. Three years in, there was a fire in September of 1983. On March 13th, 1984, The Whately Inn reopened. This where one could say “the rest is history.” He went on to live his life to the fullest and made friends everywhere he went.
Steve loved to play golf anywhere, and was fortunate enough to be able to play Pine Valley in New Jersey and his most memorable golf course played was Pebble Beach with all three of his sons. In his later years, he joined the Safari Golf Club and during the winter months he very much loved going to Florida for few months and playing plenty of golf. He also loved horse racing so much, he became part owner of a Trotter named “Catamount Du Da”.
To say he really enjoyed food is an understatement. He had a big love of music, going to Tanglewood whenever possible. He always had a joke or a good story to tell to the many people he met along his life’s journey.
He will be remembered lovingly. He was a generous person, and would strike up a conversation with anyone.
He was predeceased by his brother Kenneth (Kenny) Kloc, his sister Patricia and her husband Michael Lyons, and his brother Richard (Ticker) Kloc.
He leaves behind Frances Clarke, sons Stephen “Chip” Kloc III and his wife Lisa, Kevin and his wife Heather Kloc, Gary and his wife Marilee Kloc, and his many grand-children. Fallon Kloc and her partner Luke Shaljian, Taylor Doubleday and her husband Jack, Stephen Kloc IV, Jillian Kloc, Andrew Kloc and Hannah Kloc and a great grandson Stanley Shaljian.
Calling hours are November 3rd from 4:00-5:30pm with an In-House service starting at 5:30pm at the Czelusniak Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in his honor to Northampton High School Golf team for the future High School golfers and his love of the game.
Please go to Czelusniakfuneralhome.com for online condolences and tribute book.
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