Linda Marie Tracz

Linda Marie (Rusznica) Tracz of Amsterdam, died Tuesday October 14th at the Teresian House from complications of Alzheimers. She was born on November 13, 1950 to Norma (Coppola) Rusznica and Michael Rusznica. Linda attended local schools and graduated from Wilbur H. Lynch High School in 1968. She received an A.S. degree in Math from FMCC in 1971 and a B.S. in Secondary Math Education from SUNY Albany in 1973.

She substituted briefly but worked for NYS Dept. of Civil Service in Albany before getting married to Thomas Tracz and moving to Ft.Sill, OK where Tom was on the staff of the Field Artillery School for 3 1/2 years. 

Returning to Amsterdam in 1979, Linda worked in the Personnel Dept. of what was then Schenectady Savings Bank where she eventually did the entire payroll for all the branches in NY! She next worked as a mail carrier for the USPS for several years. She then did medical coding for Dr. Richard Etkin for a time until she took a job as a payroll specialist for Michael Zumbolo. Before retiring in 2012, Linda last worked for Constantine Builders in Amsterdam as an office manager.

Linda’s true love and talent was as a realistic oil painter! Over the years, she studied under Chris Woodward, Lily Szell and then Gunter Korus. She participated in local art shows including the Stockade Show in Schenectady, where one of her paintings was selected to hang for an exhibition in the Schenectady Art Museum. Linda took part in the very first Hagaman Art Show where she was a yearly fixture until she got sick. 

Linda taught oil painting out of her home, at the Walter Elwood Museum on Guy Park Ave and lastly at the Mt. Carmel Annex. Linda and her husband, Tom, traveled yearly to Maine for many years. She loved going on motorcycle rides. Being a dog lover, there was always a dog in the house from a stray, a Cocker Spaniel and 3 German Shepherds (but not all once). 

Linda was a kind and caring person from the time she was a little girl until the end. She was loved by everyone who knew her and by all her caregivers at the Teresian House. Linda is survived by her husband, Tom, a brother and sister-in-law, a nephew and several cousins. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her calling hours on Sunday, October 19, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Betz, Rossi, Bellinger & Stewart, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY 12010. All are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Monday October 20, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 39 St. John St., Amsterdam, NY 12010 with the Very Rev. Robert DeMartinis officiating. Interment will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Montgomery Co. SPCA may be made in Linda’s name.

To leave a message for the family, please visit www.brbsfuneral.com