Seweryn, Wojciech
August 31, 1939 - April 10, 2010
sculptorBorn - August 31, 1939 in Tarnow, Poland; died - April 10, 2010 in Smolensk, Russia. His father Mieczyslaw was an officer of the Tarnow based 16th Infantry Regiment. The son, Wojciech was born on the day before WWII erupted. On the day after the birth the father departed to join his unit which in September 1939 was captured by the Russians and then was sent to a camp in Kozielsk, becoming a victim of the Katyn crimes.
Wojciech Seweryn graduated from the Lyceum of the Arts in Tarnow and studied in the Krakow School of Fine Arts. In the 1980 he emigrated to the United States, to -- as he said -- fulfill the purpose of his life and build a monument to those who perished at Katyn. In May 2000 he founded the Chicago Committee for the Building of a Katyn Monument which he chaired. The monument he designed was placed at St. Adalbert's cemetery in Niles, and was unveiled on May 17, 2009.
He was killed in the crash of the Polish operated Tu-154M aircraft near Smolensk, Russia. He was part of a group accompanying the president of Poland Lech Kaczynski to ceremonies at Katyn. His body was buried at the parish cemetery in Zabno near Tarnow. The funeral ceremony was attended by the local Tarnow and Zabno government leaders and Allen Greenberg, the US consul general in Krakow.
For his efforts to raise a monument to Katyn victims he was presented with the "Aniol Ciepla" [Angel of Warmth] award by the mayor of Tarnow. For his outstanding service he was given the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit by the president of Poland (May 8, 2009). Six days after his death he was posthumously awarded the Commander's Cross of Poland's Rebirth (April 16, 2010).
From: various sources