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Richard Cosby with his daughter Rita

Kossobudzki (Cosby), Ryszard (1926 - June 25, 2012)
civil engineer, participant in Warsaw Uprising '44

Born in Brzesc, Poland. As a teenager Kossobudzki participated in the Warsaw Uprising (1944) as part of the "Gozdawa" Battalion. He was wounded in a mortar shrapnel blast and miraculously survived. After the fall of the uprising he was placed in a POW camp from where he escaped in 1945 to be rescued by the American Army. After his liberation he joined the Polish Army II Corps under Gen. Anders. When the war ended he stayed in London where he finished studies in civil engineering at Queen Mary College.

He emigrated to the United States in 1956 where he found work in planning and construction of the Interstate Highway System in the North-Eastern section of the US. Working as an engineer for Mueser Rutlege Consulting Engineers he was involved in the construction of many buildings in Washington including the Senate building, the Library of Congress, the Canadian Embassy and the National Gallery of Art.

He was an enthusiastic runner - finishing 30 marathons including those in New York, Boston and the military Marine Marathon, competing in the "70 plus" category.

His life history has been recorded in a book "Quiet Hero" by his daughter Rita Cosby.

Also See: Rita Cosby, TV journalist

He lost his battle with cancer on June 25, 2012 in an Alexandria, VA hospital. He died at age 86. He was awarded the Order of Poland's Rebirth poshumously at his funeral.

From: obituary - press "Nowy Dziennik" July 11, 2012

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