Paul W. Polachek passed away at home after a short illness on Thursday, August 6, 2009. Friends and family alike knew him as Pete. Pete's father, Arthur, owned and operated Arthur's Food Market since 1945, and he turned over ownership to his son in 1989. Pete took his creativity and art appreciation to work in renovating and revitalizing the market and his corner of the community. Anyone who knew Pete also knew they could come to him for help - whether it be food, clothes, shelter, counseling, or just a shoulder to lean on. After retiring in 2003, Peter devoted his time to helping many people get off drug and alcohol addictions. In addition, he volunteered as a Client Advocate with Law, Order and Justice. He enjoyed going to Glendale Nursing Home to visit many residents who had no visitors. He gave conversation and showed his care and concern for their well being. Pete often spoke of his Volkswagen van travels throughout Europe in 1969, in which he spent a year traveling through Greece, Italy, Norway and Venice with his then wife, Nancy, and young daughter, Emily. He desired greatly to have another long trip similar to when he was a young man. Pete found the idea of sailing along the Eastern Coast to Florida fascinating, yet saw the Bermuda Triangle to not be worth the effort. He decided to fulfill his dream by loading up his van this past winter and drive throughout Maine and Canada, making his way to California to visit his best friend, Paul Dicocco, and old friend, Lorraine Buckly. He found great enjoyment in visiting many art museums along the way through the southern states. He returned with a great sense of fulfillment that he's done all he ever wanted to in life. What Pete loved the most was spending time with his family. Pete was very proud of his photo collection he created, made up of old time Schenectady slogans. He took pictures of slogans he discovered painted on brick buildings, advertising products and past businesses. He had to act quickly to snap the shot before demolitions or renovations were completed. Pete was predeceased by his daughter, Emily R. Polachek, in 1994 and his father, Arthur Polachek, in 2007. Pete is survived by his mother, Margaret Polachek; his sister, Rachael Polachek of Lowell, MA; his daughters, Tiffany Brace and Ashley Martin, both of Schenectady; three grand- daughters, Azaria Goodrich, Char'Rae and Ahviell Chaires; two stepsons, Deon and Terrance Brace; son-in-law, Robert Chaires; best friends, Paul Dicocco, Gavin Grimm, Mike Almy and Maria Uribe. Pete lived his life to the fullest, saying before his death, "Please don't feel sorry for me; don't let anyone say `poor Pete'. I had a nice run. I'm 60 years old and I've had a beautiful life. I can accept this and this isn't the end for us." We'll remember his wild shoes, his extensive hat collection, his love of good fashion, his sense of humor and his insights. But most of all we'll remember his boundless generosity, his free spirit and his compassion for all. A memorial service will be held in his honor, Friday, August 14, 2009 at 11 a.m. at St. George's Episcopal Church, 30 N. Ferry St., across from Arthur's. Thank you to Hospice, and thank you to all of the Stockade area for your support you've shown Arthur for 60 years. We love you.