Former Florida Man Known for Helping Stray Cats Kills Family, Self

Former Florida Man Known for Helping Stray Cats Kills Family, Self

The Associated Press

Published: Oct 21, 2002

WESTFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Police say a former Florida man known for efforts to help stray cats stabbed his wife and two 11-year-old children to death in their home, and then killed himself in front of City Hall.

Richard Kolenda, 49, shot himself in the head with a small caliber handgun, according to Detective Lt. Michael McCabe said.

Police Sgt. Alex Beginski said Monday that authorities had no immediate motive for the killings or suicide.

He said Kolenda called 911 from a cell phone early Sunday morning, and after being connected with the State Police barracks in Northampton, told the dispatcher he had just killed his family and then hung up.

Westfield Police found Jienia Kolenda, 50, daughter Yana and son Anatoli dead at their home just before 5 a.m. Sunday, McCabe said.

"There were indicators of some struggle inside the house," McCabe said. "But, nothing major."

Police had never been called to the home before, he said. The family lived in a two-story Allen Street home in what residents called a quiet neighborhood. Both children were fifth-graders at Holy Trinity School.

Kolenda, a retired Air Force major, moved with his family back to Westfield around two years ago from Jacksonville, Fla., Walter J. Pilecki, Richard Kolenda's cousin, told the Union-News of Springfield. John W. Shepard, a next-door-neighbor, said the family arrived in July 2001.

While living in Jacksonville, Kolenda and his family worked to save feral cats at Mayport Naval Station.

Kolenda and his family went to the base with other volunteers to feed the cats. He told The Florida Times-Union he had spent about $5,000 on veterinary visits for the strays.

There were 10 cats in the Massachusetts home when police arrived.

Kolenda, who was born in Poland, first moved to Westfield around 1968. He joined the Air Force after high school. Around 1994, Kolenda and his wife adopted their two children from Russia, Pilecki said.

The family regularly came to the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, celebrated in Polish, the Rev. Gerard J. Boulanger of Holy Trinity Church said. The son was an altar server, and the daughter sang with the choir.

"This is very tragic," Boulanger said. "This community, especially the Holy Trinity family, has lost four very nice people."

Shepard said he and his wife, Betty Lou, recently attended a barbecue at the Kolenda home.

"They were a beautiful family," Shepard said. "They were a quiet and sociable family."