Pinkowski Files

Golombek, Joseph
(1930 - 2007)
Joseph Golombek was born in Sandomierz, Poland on Dec. 12, 1930 to Joseph and Maria. His father was an American citizen who had fought in the First World War and then returned to Poland after it was reconstituted a republic after 123 years of foreign domination.
In September 1939, the Germans invaded Poland starting World War Two. In 1944 Sandomierz was "liberated" by the Soviet Union's Red Army. Joseph lived under the tyranny of Europe's two worst dictators, Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin. It is no wonder that as an American citizen by birth Joseph immigrated to the United States in 1947 with his father and two brothers.
The family lived in a tenement building on Amherst Street near Kail where he met Elizabeth "Betty" Kusior. She has fond memories of him waiting for her at the comer of Amherst and Kail at the end of the day when she returned home from Riverside High School. In the evenings she taught him English. They were married March 27,1951 and spent their lives in Black Rock and Riverside. They raised three children, Deborah, Linda and Joseph who all still live in Erie County.
Joseph worked at Ford Motor Company from 1950 until his retirement in 1988. Most of that time he worked maintenance and landscaping, a job he loved. He earned the nickname "Tractor Joe" among his coworkers at the Stamping Plant. In the mid 50s he was injured at Ford while trying to help a coworker. For two years his wife nursed him back to health.
In his spare time Joseph would spend hours working on his garden where he grew vegetables and flowers. It was not uncommon for him to stop at people's homes and leave gifts of "Polish" tomatoes, cucumbers, or zucchini. Although he never had a formal education he was an avid reader. "He would read my history books from college," said his son, North District Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr. "and then argue with me about them."
He had been a Democrat Committee member since 1986 and long time member of the Polish Cadets where he and his wife were awarded the "Persons of the Year" award in 2003.
He died July 24, 2007 as beloved husband of Elizabeth "Betty" (nee Kusior); dear father of Deborah (Frederick) Varga, Linda (David) Micell and Joseph (Cynthia) Golombek Jr.; fond grandfather of Jonathan Varga and Daniel Micell; great grandfather of Alexander Joseph Varga; dear brother to Chester, Mary Walas of Poland, Tessie Raclawski and the late Eugene and Edward Golombek; also survived by many devoted nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at Kolano Funeral Home, 396 Amherst St. (near Grant), 873-1440, Wednesday 7 - 9 p.m. and Thursday 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Florian Church, 569 Hertel Ave., Friday at noon. Please assemble at church.
Mr. Golombek was a member of the Polish Cadets; and a retiree of Ford Motor Co. Local #897. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Joseph Golombek Scholarship Fund, c/o M&T Bank, 788 Tonawanda St., Buffalo, NY, 14207.
Source: Am-Pol Eagle, Thursday, July 26, 2007.