Pittsfield, MA Fall from Scaffold, Nov 1956

Workman Killed In 3-Story Fall

Steve Rusnack, 45, Dies In Pittsfield; Companion In Hospital

A fall from a third floor scaffold at the General Electric company plant in Pittsfield, Mass., instantly killed one Bridgeport and seriously injured another at 2:10 p.m. yesterday.

Dead is STEVE RUSNACK, 45, of 190 Oakwood Avenue.

Reported in “critical” condition in Pittsfield General hospital this morning is Albert Marconis, 36, of the Logan hotel, 1545 Stratford Avenue, who received a fracture of the skull, internal injuries and a compound fracture of the right arm.

The men, employees of the Structural Restoration company, 164 Alex Street, had been engaged in exterior caulking work at the G.E. Plant.

Authorities there theorized that they lost their balance and fell 45 feet to a driveway when a portion of the scaffold on which they were working gave way. Mr. Rusnack reportedly fell first.

Services for Mr. Rusnack will take place next week in his home town of Lansford, Pa., according to his sister, Mrs. Vincent Koller, with whom he resided. She said he had lived in this area about five years.

Mrs. Richard P. Gentile, secretary of the Structural Restoration Company, said Mr. Rusnack had been employed by the company on a seasonal basis several years, Mr. Marconis, a native of Newark, N.J. started work with the firm in June, she said. He has no relatives in this area.

In addition to Mrs. Koller, Mr. Rusnack is survived by his mother, Mrs. Tekla Rusnack, of Bridgeport; two other sisters, Mrs. Agnes Gyenes, of New York city, and Mrs. Mary Brinkos, of Lansford, and a brother, Paul Rusnack, also of Lansford.
The Bridgeport Post, Bridgeport, CT 17 Nov 1956

Second Man Dies Of Fall Injuries

Albert Marconis, 36, Succumbs in Pittsfield, Mass., Hospital

The second of two Bridgeport men who fell from a staging 45 feet to the pavement Friday while at work on a General Electric company building in Pittsfield, Mass., died yesterday.

ALBERT MARCONIS, 36, died of injuries died of injuries at Pittsfield General hospital where he was taken Friday in “critical condition” shortly after 2:10 p.m. when the accident occurred. He had resided at Logan Hotel, 1545 Stratford Avenue.

Mr. Marconis’ injuries were listed as a fractured skull, internal injuries and a compound fracture of the right arm.

STEVE RUSNACK, 45, of 190 Oakwood Avenue, died instantly when he fell from a third floor staging platform.

Services for Mr. Rusnack will take place in Lansford, Pa., his hometown, this week, according to his sister, Mrs. Vincent Koller, with whom he resided. Services for Mr. Marconis have not yet been announced.

Mr. Marconis was a native of Newark, N.J. He had started work, with the Structural Restoration company in June, according to a company spokesman. He has no relatives in this area. Mr. Rusnack also worked for that firm, which is located at 164 Alex Street here.

According to eyewitnesses at the plant, the men fell backwards from a height of 45 feet into a driveway when a portion of the scaffolding gave way. Mr. Rusnack fell first. It was presumed the men lost their balance since that part of the scaffolding on which they were standing did not fall.

The platform upon which they were working was between the third and fourth floors on the outside of the building.

The Bridgeport Post, Bridgeport, CT 18 Nov 1956
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!