Eastern Michigan Athletics
E-Club Hall of Fame Member Jim Pietrzak Passes Away
4/10/2018 11:21:00 AM | Football, E-Club
Pietrzak was a three-sport athlete at EMU including collecting All American honors in football
RALEIGH, N.C. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University E-Club Hall of Famer Jim Pietrzak passed away Thursday, April 5, at the age of 65. Pietrzak, who was inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame in 2002, was named to three All-American teams in 1973 as an offensive tackle before being drafted in the sixth round of the 1974 NFL Draft.
Born in Hamtramck, Mich. on Feb. 21, 1953, Pietrzak graduated from Eastern Michigan in 1974 where he competed in three sports - football, wrestling and track. An outstanding football player for EMU from 1972-74, he played on the offensive line as a guard and tackle. Pietrzak also handled all of the long-snapping duties for the team.
In 1973, Pietrzak was selected to the Kodak College Division first-team by a vote of members of the American Football Coaches Association. He was also named to The Football News' first-team College Division All-American Team, as well as third-team Small College All-American selection by The Associated Press. For his efforts, he was drafted in the sixth round of the 1974 National Football League Draft by the New York Giants. Pietrzak played in the NFL for a total of 12 years, with the New York Giants (1974-79), the New Orleans Saints (1979-84) and the Kansas City Chiefs (1987).
Following his football career, Pietrzak began his career in outside sales with Jackson National Life Insurance where he worked for over 17 years. From there, he worked in various outside sales positions ending with Fish Window Cleaning in Raleigh, N.C.
Pietrzak was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen Pietrzak. He is survived by his wife, Cathy; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Carmelita Pietrzak; daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Connor Elliott; three grandchildren, Laura Catherine Pietrzak, Madeline James Pietrzak and Connor McNamara Elliott; two brothers, John (Margaret) Pietrzak and Robert Pietrzak, and countless members of his family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Duke Children's Hospital and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Memories may be shared in his online guestbook at www.rfhr.com .
Visitation will be held at Renaissance Funeral Home in Raleigh, N.C. on April 10, 2018, from 6-8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi in Raleigh, N.C. on April 11, 2018, at 1 p.m. with a visitation preceding mass at 12 p.m.
Born in Hamtramck, Mich. on Feb. 21, 1953, Pietrzak graduated from Eastern Michigan in 1974 where he competed in three sports - football, wrestling and track. An outstanding football player for EMU from 1972-74, he played on the offensive line as a guard and tackle. Pietrzak also handled all of the long-snapping duties for the team.
In 1973, Pietrzak was selected to the Kodak College Division first-team by a vote of members of the American Football Coaches Association. He was also named to The Football News' first-team College Division All-American Team, as well as third-team Small College All-American selection by The Associated Press. For his efforts, he was drafted in the sixth round of the 1974 National Football League Draft by the New York Giants. Pietrzak played in the NFL for a total of 12 years, with the New York Giants (1974-79), the New Orleans Saints (1979-84) and the Kansas City Chiefs (1987).
Following his football career, Pietrzak began his career in outside sales with Jackson National Life Insurance where he worked for over 17 years. From there, he worked in various outside sales positions ending with Fish Window Cleaning in Raleigh, N.C.
Pietrzak was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen Pietrzak. He is survived by his wife, Cathy; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Carmelita Pietrzak; daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Connor Elliott; three grandchildren, Laura Catherine Pietrzak, Madeline James Pietrzak and Connor McNamara Elliott; two brothers, John (Margaret) Pietrzak and Robert Pietrzak, and countless members of his family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Duke Children's Hospital and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Memories may be shared in his online guestbook at www.rfhr.com .
Visitation will be held at Renaissance Funeral Home in Raleigh, N.C. on April 10, 2018, from 6-8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi in Raleigh, N.C. on April 11, 2018, at 1 p.m. with a visitation preceding mass at 12 p.m.
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