Fred M. Pavlock

Fred M. Pavlock, 95, of Salamanca, NY, died Monday morning, July 7, 2025 in Pittsford, NY surrounded by his family.

Born November 18, 1929, in Ellicottville NY, he was the son of the late Frederick and Anna Ficek Pavlock. He was married on August 18, 1956, in the former St. Patrick’s RC Church to Barbara Pavlock, who predeceased him in 1996. His current life partner Eleanor Pavlock of Salamanca, NY survives.

As a child of the depression, he raised animals for food, packed hay in the hay mow, and sold punch boards at the local bars with his geese and rabbits as prizes. During World War II, he worked at M. Murphy and Sons for $.25 per hour after school and Saturdays.

He was a graduate of Salamanca High School, class of 1947. He also earned his bachelor’s degree in education from St. Bonaventure University in 1954.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1947-1950 and had been stationed in Japan. He served as a senior surgical medical technician.

He originally attended St. Bonaventure to be a doctor. After his father was killed in a car accident in 1953, he had to help support his mother, so he cut his education short after earning the bachelor’s degree in biology and went to work on the railroad as a telegraph agent in Randolph. In 1955, he began his teaching career in Randolph without any education courses and went back to St. Bonaventure to get his certification and several other colleges to earn supervisor, principal, and superintendent certifications. He began his long-term position as a biology teacher in Salamanca in 1959, retiring in 1990. His students all remember him fondly for his engaging teaching style and dramatic “ENERGY!” phrase when teaching Biology. He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Parish, and the Cattaraugus County Retired Teachers Association.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, the outdoors, boating, and hunting.

Surviving are: a son Michael Pavlock, Wellsville, NY; a daughter, Nancy Swanson, Henrietta, NY; grandchildren Christopher (Holli) Swanson, Greece NY, Jacob Swanson, Rochester, NY, McKenzie Harris, Rochester, NY, and a great-grandchild Cori Rae Swanson, Greece NY. He was predeceased by his sister Marjorie Cooney.

There will be no visitation.

A private ceremony and entombment will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Salamanca, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to University of Rochester medicine home care foundation at https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/home-care/giving/how-to-give or you may mail donations to UR Medicine Home Care Foundation 300 East River Road, Box 278996, Rochester, NY 14627.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY.

E-condolences can be sent to orourke.orourkefh@gmail.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh.