Edward "Teddy" Puzniak, 69, of Salem, NH, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, May 26th. Teddy was born in Lawrence, MA, the son of the late Helen (Maloney) and Edward "Ed" Puzniak. A lifelong resident of Salem, Teddy attended Salem public schools and graduated from Salem High School.

Teddy retired from the Town of Salem Division of Public Works in 2018 where he was Chief Mechanic after more than 25 years with the organization. He developed a reputation for hard work and dedication to his job and took pride in playing a role in helping keep Salem's fleet operational and roads clear of snow and ice.

To say that he was a creature of habit would be an understatement; but, in a way, there was a comforting predictability in knowing where you'd find him and what he'd be doing if you dropped by for a visit. He could be influenced, however—later in life he discovered that he loved Vietnamese food and the occasional vodka & tonic with extra lemon. He had a few key dishes he was known to cook and he made exceptionally great cheeseburgers.

Teddy was a man of few words. If you didn't know him well, that quiet demeanor could be a bit intimidating at first. If he sized you up and determined "You're alright," that meant that he liked you. He was a quiet observer in larger groups and family gatherings but would suddenly come out with a little zing that would crack people up. He had an extremely dry, witty, sarcastic sense of humor.

He was a great sport about letting his loved ones tease him; if you made him laugh, he had this classic, silent, full-body chuckle. He loved word puzzles, toast with raspberry jam, peanut butter cups, long-sleeved t-shirts, and being gifted a new pair of flannel pajama pants every Christmas. He was a man of quiet gestures and showed his care and love to his family and friends through practical acts of service and useful gifts. He was blessed with the kind of complexion that left him deeply, darkly tan after 2 hours in the sun. Nieces and nephews and family who spent summer vacation with him at Newfound Lake remember a few epic sunburns after he spent the day floating around without reapplying sunscreen. A gifted mechanical mind, he often tackled his own home renovations and was a self-taught woodworker who built and finished tables, headboards, and other furniture for his family.

Teddy is survived by his wife, Kathie (Bowlby) of Salem, NH, his son Jason Puzniak of Nashville, TN and daughter, Kacee Puzniak of Salem, MA, and was "Grampa" to granddaughters, Karsen and Kendall of Nashville, TN; his brother John Puzniak and wife Phyllis of Salem, NH, and his many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his beloved younger brother, Daniel "Danny" Puzniak.

Calling hours will be Friday, June 2nd from 10:00 AM - 12:45 PM and the funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM at Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St. Salem, NH 03079.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Teddy Puzniak to support cancer research and patient care at:

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via dana-farber.org/gift.