James Szalwinski, a lifelong resident of Cheektowaga, a suburb of Buffalo, New York, passed away on December 9, 2017, at the age of 72.

Jim was a Machinist / Researcher and Developer at Graphic Controls in Buffalo, New York.

He was a lifelong lover of music, appreciating musicianship and songwriting. He enjoyed collecting guitars and tinkering with them. Later in life, Jim started his own business, CJ Guitar Tooling, an online and local supplier of custom guitar parts used by musicians all over the world. His work was featured in Vintage Guitar and Guitar World Magazine in 2014.
https://www.facebook.com/cjguitartooling

Jim was an avid gardener, adept woodworker and carpenter. A talented mechanic, he loved vintage cars, NASCAR, and kept his faith in the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres his entire life.

Jim always had a joke for you and a wry sense of humor. He was proud of his Polish heritage and enjoyed making pierogies, soup and placek.

He was son to the late Janina (Kucharski) and late Casimer Szalwinski.

Jim was the beloved husband of Carol (nee Lewandowski) Szalwinski and devoted father of Kelly (David) Waller and Jeffrey (Christine Markferding) Szalwinski.

Dear brother of the late Dick (late Betty) Szalwinski and dearest brother-in-law of Janice (Charles) Poloncarz, Linda (Paul) Minkoff and Marcia Lewandowski.

He was the loving uncle of Donna (Doug) Kozuch, Mark (Becky) Szalwinski, Mark Poloncarz, Rob (Lynn) Poloncarz, Kevin (Jason Walthall) Poloncarz, Kerry Soltysinski and Kristen Lewandowski.

Family will be present on Friday afternoon from 4-7 at the PIETSZAK FUNERAL HOME, 2400 William St. (near Harlem) where a Funeral Service will be held at 6:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York 14263) or Hospice Buffalo (225 Como Park Boulevard, Cheektowaga, New York 14227).