Wrobel, Chester Boleslaw
(Apr. 2, 1914 - Dec. 6, 1998)
Builder and Polish community leaderHe was born April 2, 1914, in Port Washington, New York, the son of Antoni Wrobel and Marianna Kowalski. He began learning to work with carpenter's tools at home and when he enlisted in the U.S. Army on Feb. 26, 1942, it served him in good stead. After the war he built houses on Long Island and became a pillar of the Polish community in Port Washington. He joined the American Legion, Post 509, St. Hedwig's Catholic War Veterans, Post 882, and other organizations in Port Washington. He organized two lodges of the Polish National Alliance and served at one time or other as president, vice president, secretary, director, and chairman of committees.
The longer he lived the more he wanted to see signs of his Polish roots. In January 1977 he started a little museum in a part of the Polish American Citizens Club, Port Washington, and often showed medals, photos, and military uniforms of people who had served in the American and Polish armies. It had no more space for other exhibits. Finally he saw an opportunity to have more space for exhibits in 1982 when the officials of Port Washington put up for sale their old public library on Belleville Avenue. Wrobel estimated how much the building was worth and submitted a bid of $200,000. It was accepted. Then he worked hard with members of the Polish American Citizens Club and volunteers to turn the building into a museum and pay off the huge mortgage.
Since he was laid to rest in Long Island National Cemetery at Pinelawn, life at the Polish American Museum isn't the same without Wrobel. He left the rental income from five houses to support the museum. His wife of 62 years, Regina Zebrowski, with whom he had three children - John, Wanda, and Henry - remained on the board of directors for many years. Curators, however, have come and gone. Without traveling exhibits, the showcases in various rooms lack freshness. For example, the hundred anniversary of Henry Archacki's birth in 2007 passed without an exhibit of his drawings; they are locked up in the museum, as are other treasures. Certainly it's no way to treat Wrobel's legacy. It must be kept alive.
From: Edward Pinkowski (2009)
Chester Boleslaw Wrobel
Builder, Polish community leader
Born Apr. 2, 1914, Port Washington (NY), U.S.; son of Antoni and Maryjanna (Kowalski); married Regina (Zebrowski); children: John, Wanda, Henry.
Education: U.S. Army carpentry diploma.
Career: in Port Washington - organizer, president, life member, Polish National Alliance (P.N.A.) groups 167 and 187, secretary, vice president, president, director, board directors member (for 21 years), chairman, Bingo and Scholarship Committee (for 14 years), Polish American Citizens Association, organizer, chairman, Pulaski Parade Committee, co-founder, 1st president, comptrolle, Polish American Museum, founder, comptroller, General Pulaski Foundation.
Member: Kosciuszko Foundation; General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee; Polish American Congress (P.A.C.); Polish American War Veterans; Knights of Malta; American Legion; Catholic War Veterans; Carpenters and Joiners of America; Carpenter's Union, Nassau County (NY); AMPOLA - American Polish Businessmen Association; American Polish Council, Hempstead (NY); Polish Army Veterans Association - Stowarzyszenie Weteranow Armii Polskiej (S.W.A.P.), and St. Hyacinth Church, Glen Head (NY); past member, Long Island Home Builders Institute.
Honors: Citizen of the Year, Polish American World, 1978.
Served with: U.S. Army, World War II, T4, sergeant, 1943-45.
Affiliation: Republican. Roman Catholic.
Languages: English, Polish.
Hobbies: writing, gardening.
Home: 6 Sandy Hollow Lane, Port Washington, NY 11050.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996.
Wrobel, Chester
Polish community leaderLeader of the Polish American Museum Foundation in Port Washington, Long Island, New York
New Polish Museum a Great Achievement
Port Washington, N. Y. -- Six years ago a group of dedicated Polonians got together and established the Polish American Museum Foundation -- an organization founded to create a repository for the rich Polish heritage. This past month, the dream has come true. Through the leadership of Chester Wrobel and Museum curator, Dr. Raymond Adaczak, Port Washington impressive brick former library has been converted into Long Island's only Polish museum.
The purpose of the Museum Foundation is to encourage greater knowledge and appreciation of Polish culture, customs, religion, social and industrial achievements in education, art, science and literature.
The museum, which is a total of 7,000 square feet of floor space on two levels, is also geared to create interest in education, art and other cultural programs, in addition to providing material aide to students, schools, cultural organizations and colleges.
The Museum, which also houses a Polish Supplemental School, and a rich collection of Polish books, periodicals, prints, pictures, etc., is located at 16 Bellview Avenue in Port Washington. For more information call (516) 883 6542.
Source: Polish American Journal, October 1983.