Saturday was a day we will all morn. If any of you knew Dennis Bigaj, you knew a true Patriot. Dennis passed away at his cabin property in Southern NYS and he will be missed terribly. I consider myself lucky to have known him and this loss hurts greatly. I feel as if I lost an older brother, I truly do.
Dennis and I became friendly 20 some years ago when he moved his family to Dolphin Dr. in the Bethford neighborhood. He lived about a dozen houses away from my parents house and we met soon after he moved in. We really didn’t get to be very close friends until 2005 when we both ran for the Erie County Legislatures 1st Legislative District.
We helped each other putting up signs and doing literature drops for each other. Since that time I have counted on his counsel for many of the major decisions I made with politics. Their wasn’t any secrets between us politically and we worked our plans to perfection. Dennis was instrumental in helping Steven Walters get elected and he helped greatly with Tom Best.
Dennis was a Democratic Committee Member for Hamburg District 7 or 12. I’m not sure which one but he was elected in the district he lives in. That’s something Dem Chairman Jim Sorrentino can’t even claim. I know Dennis would meet with Jim on Saturdays at Tim Hortons for coffee every now and then but his best friend in politics was his life long best friend Fran Pordum. I spoke briefly with Fran and devastated is an understatement.
Dennis was a true Patriot, a great father and husband. He demonstrated how to be an ethical politician while garnering friends from every political party. He had a bar/restaurant for a while in Lackawanna and he worked for the West Seneca school System as a janitor until his back was so bad he couldn’t hardly move. Since then he tried to enjoy his “so called retirement” and kept busy with family and politics.
Dennis was the kind of guy who you would have to strap down to get him quiet. to say he hated being disabled is an understatement. God speed Dennis, I’m sure we will meet again at the pearly gates someday. I’ll try and make you proud by following your example in politics. I miss you Dennis and so does most of the people who knew you well. God Bless you and your family!
Dennis was a good person who had a clear vision for the Town of Hamburg. He will be greatly missed.