Walter J. Glinski, 81, passed away on Friday, Dec. 18 at Tobey Hospital in Wareham after a long struggle with diabetes. He was the husband of Sally A. (Sherry) Glinski.

Born in Rockland, he was the son of the late Stanley and Stacia (Tunewicz) Glinski. He spent his early years in Rockland where he graduated from Rockland High School in 1953. While in high school, he participated in a variety of sports.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean war and was stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia.

Walter was a graduate of University of Massachusetts – Amherst. While at UMass, he played football for two years and lacrosse for three years. He became captain of the lacrosse team and received All American Lacrosse honors in both his junior and senior years. He also attended Providence College where he received two Masters Degrees in Secondary Administration and Elementary Administration.

After graduating from UMass, Mr. Glinski taught driver education, science, health and physical education at Wareham High School. During his 30 year career at Wareham, he was assistant coach of both the football and basketball teams and was head coach of the golf team. While at Wareham, he also served as director of physical education, health, safety and intramurals for the Wareham school system. Other coaching positions he held were, assistant lacrosse coach at UMass and Winchendon Academy and assistant girl’s lacrosse coach at Sandwich High School. Mr. Glinski was also a member of the Lacrosse Officials Association.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 51 years, Sally Glinski, his four admired sons, Michael Glinski and his wife Deborah, of Duxbury, Steven Glinski and his wife Kathryn, of Buzzards Bay, Mark Glinski and his wife Amanda, of New Bedford, and Matthew Glinski and his wife Kimberly, of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by his nine cherished grandchildren, Thomas, Garrett, Michael, Jr., Sarah, Mark, Jr., Noah, Matthew, Luke and Olivia. Also surviving are his brothers Robert Glinski and his wife Allanah, of Pembroke, and Stanley Glinski and his wife Carol, of Halifax; his sisters, Doris Barry of Rockland and Stacia Welles and her husband Richard, of Rockland.

Walter felt his legacy in life was being blessed with his family.

His funeral will be from the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy. on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 9 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Church, Onset Ave., Onset at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Mass. National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours will be Tuesday from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Donations in his memory may be made to American Diabetes Assoc., 10 Speen St., 2nd Floor, Framingham, MA 01701. For directions and on-line guestbook visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com.