Jozef Zbigniew Otfinowski [space] Polish Version [Arrow Picture] "Who's Who in Polish America" 1997 listing [Arrow Picture]
Polish army colonel
January 2, 1905 - March 24, 2000

Jozef Zbigniew Otfinowski, 95, a longtime resident of Menlo Park, died March 24. Born in Smiela, Ukraine, near Kiev, in 1905, he and his family was caught away from home at the outbreak of World War I and forced to dodge both German and Russian Kossak troops to catch the last train home.

After the family's land was seized after the Russian revolution, he fled to Poland with his parents and two brothers. In 1920, at the age of 15, he volunteered to fight the Red Army during the Polish-Bolshevik war, and so began a long career in the Polish military. He was a colonel in the Polish Army and an instructor at the Polish Military Academy in Poznan.

During World War II, he was captured and interred by first the Russians invading from the East and then by the Hungarians as he tried to join the Polish military being reorganized in France. He was interred a third time, in Switzerland, after German troops pushed his infantry unit across the Swiss border.

While in Switzerland, he met Marcelle Beretta, whom he later married. He was finally able to escape Switzerland and reach Great Britain where he served with the Polish Army under British command until 1949. After the war, he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for his military service. He was working as a pastry chef in London when he heard that the U.S. Congress had passed a law allowing Polish soldiers who had fought with the Allies to immigrate to the U.S. In 1951, he and his wife moved to New York.

Eager to work for the government of his new country, he got a job with the U.S. Geological Survey in 1959 and began mapping the western U.S. After 11 years as a cartographer in the field, he moved to Menlo Park in 1970 to work at USGS headquarters. He retired in 1984. He is survived by his wife Marcelle Otfinowski of Menlo Park; and his two daughters, Giovanna Otfinowski and Danuta Otfinowski. Services have been held.

From: Obituary, "Palo Alto Weekly," April 5, 2000

Jozef Zbigniew Otfinowski
Polish army colonel
January 2, 1905 - March 24, 2000

Died on March 24 - in Palo Alto California, a colonel of artillery in the Polish Armed Forces in the West. Born on January 2, 1905 in Smiela, near Kiev in Ukraine. A volunteer in the Polish-Bolshevik War of 1920. An officer of the 7th Division of Horse Artillery in Poznan. A participant in the Polish-German War and Soviet Invasion [1939]. After capitulating, endured short term captivity by the Germans and Soviets. After the French-German War was interned in Switzerland. In 1944 joined the Polish Armed Forces, Artillery Regiment W.

Dear Readers!

In my reminiscence about dear departed Zbyszek I would like to say something about the horse artillery, which Zbyszek loved to the end of his days, where I had the honor of serving as a reserve officer. The horse artillery, whose traditions reach to the Napoleonic era, was the queen of the battlefield in the pre-war [WWII] Polish Republic. Its tree-battery decisions trained and fought directly alongside the cavalry brigades. In his memoirs of service in the 7th Greater Poland Division of Horse Artillery, published last year Zbyszek wrote that: "throughout my life, a vision of the time 66 years ago passes through my life like a golden thread, and I often return to it when I am sad and lonely. The gallop of the batteries in developed formation, the taking of position and the beginning of bombardment -- were things mystical, exciting, made the heart beat faster. Every cannoneer felt it, every officer and sub-officer of the horse artillery. Even the horses felt it." I will add, that we were ready to rapidly shoot grenades at moving targets and also throw shrapnel at attacking infantry or charging cavalry.

The horse artillery had its own special traditions, whereby all the regular officers and reservists formed one great family and despite future reassignments were bound by a close, long-lasting friendship, which I felt for many including Zbyszek. That is why I am here to say farewell and mourn him as I would an elder brother. Zbyszek was born in Smiela, near Kiev in Ukraine on January 2, 1905. During his life he ad near-encounters with death: first during the Russian Revolution, then during the defense of Warsaw during the Bolshevik invasion of 1920, in 1939 fighting against the Germans, and in France in 1940.

Already in 1917 Zbyszek joined the Polish Boy Scouts, which was cooperating with the Polish Military Organization. Fleeing from the Bolshevik Revolution with his family, on the so-called last train in 1919, Zbyszek arrived in Poland. Despite the fact that his older brother was already taking part in the fight against the Germans, Zbyszek made his family sign a written permission and, as a volunteer, joined in the defense of Warsaw in 1920. Though it was difficult for him to return to school, he completed high school and studied law for two years, which broadened his knowledge of the humanities and prepared him for a military career. During 1926-1929 he completed the artillery officers' school and was sent to the 7th Poznan Division of the Horse Artillery, where he served for the next seven years. From 1937 he was an instructor at the artillery officers' school in Torun. In 1939 he fought as a staff officer in the 41st Division of the Infantry. After capitulating he was a prisoner of the germans, but quickly escaped. Caught by the Soviets, whom he remembered with distaste, he again escaped and made it across the "green border" into Hungary where he was interned. In a short time he was able to join the Polish forces in France, where he fought as commander of the 202nd Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Polish Division. This division fought the Germans to the last round of ammunition and then crossed the Swiss border where it was interned. Zbyszek was fortunate to meet a beautiful lady, whom he called the "angel of the interned," who in 1947 came to Scotland and became his wife.

In the meantime Zbyszek escaped from interment in Switzerland and joined the Polish Armed Forces in Great Britain, where he became the commander of the 1st Division's 14 Light Artillery Regiment in Scotland. After demobilization he worked as a pastry chef and a dental technician. In 1951 he and his wife were able to get visas to the USA and come to Los Angeles. Zbyszek wrote that California turned out to be a fertile land, for in a short time his family gained two daughters: Joasia and Danuta. Starting a new life in the USA was not easy. He wanted to work as a land surveyor but without being employed he could not join the Surveyors' Union, while without membership he could not get work. So he worked as a laborer in a foundry that made aluminum pistons, as a gardener, or a survey technician. Finally, in 1957 he obtained employment as a road technician for the building of roads on Indian Reservations. He liked this work, because the constant travel reminded him of his days in the army, and he was happy though he used a Jeep instead of a horse to traverse great distances.

At last, in 1959, Zbyszek was hired as a cartographer for the United States Geological Service. He worked in Menlo Park until he retired in 1984.

To the last Zbyszek was full of optimism, clear of mind and full of humor, while his good heart and willingness to help won him the hearts of many friends. He was not only a wonderful elder member but a very active one in the Polish Veteran's Association in Northern California. I will never forget that I was fortunate to take part and raise a toast at his 95th birthday, during which he enchanted us with his lively and pleasant personality. I am happy to know that his remains will rest in a special place at the Powozki Cemetery [in Warsaw] in this most dear Polish soil for which he fought and he loved dearly to the end of his full life.

From: Ryszard Kolaczkowski, Palo Alto, March 30, 2000
Memorials of Polish Patriots of Northern California
Translation by: Peter J. Obst (2007)