George Andrucki, parade announcer, dead at 74

George Andrucki, the voice of the New York City Labor Day Parade for more than 20 years, will be remembered most for his dedication to workers, his deep involvement in labor issues and an empathy for others borne out of personal tragedy, family and friends said.

Andrucki, 74, of Smithtown, became well known as the announcer for the parade, a position he began in the 1980s and continued into the late 2000s, his family said.

"Even though he was retired, he was still announcing," said his wife, Mary Andrucki, 76, of Smithtown. "He loved it."

Andrucki died of cancer Saturday.

Born in the Bronx in 1936, Andrucki graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1953 and apprenticed at the Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 28, his wife said.

The couple, together for more than 57 years, had five children. In 1959 the family moved to Bethpage and then settled in Smithtown.

A lifelong member of Local 28, Andrucki went on to become a mechanic and later a union business agent and labor law advocate. He worked on The World Trade Center, Radio City Music Hall and the Trump World Tower, his family said.

Eugene Doyle, 75, of Mountain Dale, who worked with Andrucki for years, said, "He was a great boss. He worked as hard as the men."

Andrucki's empathy for others came from losing four of his children, said his daughter Linda Andrucki-Izzo. "Because of his losses, he had a level of compassion," she said. "He knew what it was to have loss and have grief."

Two of his adult sons died of heart attacks, another son was struck and killed by a train at 18, and his daughter Jean died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, she said.

Andrucki's interests were camping, kayaking, running, and gardening with his family. "He was a very outgoing man," his wife said. "He could mix with anybody."

Andrucki-Izzo, 46, of Airmont, said he was a well of information. "He was like a compass. When I didn't know which direction to go in, I asked him."

In the last months of his life, Andrucki worked on putting together a history of Local 28, his wife said.

His funeral is at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Patrick's Church in Smithtown. Burial will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery.