Wojciech Maria Przezdziecki
Chemist
Born Mar. 25, 1929, Malomierzyce, Poland; came to U.S., 1967; son of Janusz and Jadwiga (Kuczkowska); married Maria (Guminska); children: Jan, Marek, Joanna, Maria Katharine.
Education: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) (honorary), National University of Ireland, Cork-Eire, 1953.
Career: chemist, engineer, United Kingdom, 1953-57, Kodak Ltd., Harrow (United Kingdom), 1957-67; research associate, Eastman Kodak, Rochester (NY), 1967-92.
Author: 17 American and 6 British patents, 1964-90.
Member of: vice chairman, Organization to Aid Newcomers from Poland, Rochester, 1982-85; active member (parish council president, 1986-87, Centennial Celebration Committee, 1989-90), St. Stanislaus Church, Rochester; co-chairman, Krakow - Rochester Sister Cities Committee.
Affiliation: Roman Catholic.
Languages: Polish, English, Russian.
Home: 53 Round Trail Drive, Pittsford, NY 14534.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation,
New York, NY, 1996.
Wojciech PrzezdzieckiPolonia Activist
by the Board of Directors of the Polish Heritage Society, Rochester, NY
Wojciech Przezdziecki from 1957 worked as a researcher for Kodak, UK. He maried Maria there and they had four children. After 10 years he transferred to Research Laboratories of Eastman Kodak in Rochester NY and bought a house in Pittsford, NY.
Contacts with rectories and Polish community organizations began after arrival of Fr. Andrzej Grzela. Wojciech and Maria Przezdziecki were introduced by John and Stephanie Stenclik to the St. Stanislaus Church Community.
He was instrumental in facilitating medical personnel between Krakow and Rochester. Instrumental also in providing financial and material help to St. LudwikÕs ChildrenÕs Hospital in Krakow culminating in the presentation of the "Medical Van" for transportation of sick children and their parents. The van bears the emblem of Rochester, Krakow and the hospital.
Listed in "Who's Who in Polish America" (1st edition, 1996-7, see p 372).
Activity:
1982-1985 - Vice-chair of the Organization to Aid Newcomers from Poland, Inc.
1986-1987 - Member and the President of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish Council.
1988-1990 - Chair of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish "Centennial Celebration Committee".
1968 - 2001, Co-Chair of the Krakow Rochester Sister Cities Committee, Inc.
Achievements:
With extensive help from members of the various Committees, Organizations (Polish and other), Rochester Institutions, and interested individuals, Wojciech together with his wife Maria were able to contribute to the following activities:
- Assistance in resettling Newcomers from Poland (Mostly via Austria).
- Organization of annual high school exchanges from X Lyceum in Krakow.
- Participation of initial contacts, followed by financial and material help to St. LudwikÕs Children's Hospital in Krakow, culminating, eventually in presentation of the "Medical Van", which to this day carries sick children, their parents in the areas of the Hospital activities.
- Arrangement of three, very successful Evening Recitals of Trio Nova, with the help of all the members of the KRSCC and of course the performing Artists.
- Participation in Exchanges of Medical personnel between Krakow and Rochester.
- Hosting a long list of "official" visitors from Poland (especially Krakow).
- Establishing contacts between the Rochester and Krakow City Halls after the change of political climate in Poland.
- Organizing tours of Poland (with emphasis on Krakow) for the Rochester citizens interested and participating in our activities. The groups included prominent members of the City Management and leaders of the Rochester Academic Institutions.
- Transmitting $2000 to the City of Krakow to alleviate the damage done by a hurricane to the beautiful and historic green belt surrounding the center of Krakow. The gift, from KRSCC, is commemorated by a plaque placed in a prominent place, amongst other historic plaques and can now be viewed by visitors to Krakow.
References:
1. Democrat and Chronicle, Sunday, May 3,1992: "Polish emigre revisits land of Raw memories " by MIchael Zeigler.
2. "Two Extraordinary Journeys" - Wojciech and Maria Przezdziecki in "Shoulder to Shoulder" 2nd Edition, by Kathleen Urbanic, 2000.