Grabowski, Chester

Chester Grabowski
Founder (in 1962) and now Editor-Emeritus of the Post Eagle, the largest independent American Polish weekly newspaper in the country. He has dedicated the newspaper to the preservation of the Polish heritage and culture in the United States, to recognition for all Americans of Polish descent, and to promoting good citizenship.
Mr. Grabowski was born in Harrison, New Jersey, and raised in nearby Kearny, New Jersey. He graduated from Our Lady of Czestochowa Parochial School and Kearny High School, then earning his B.S. and J. D. at Seton Hall University.
Aside from his work on the Post Eagle, Mr. Grabowski has supported the cause of Polonia via other media. He has conducted shows both on the radio and on television, including a Polish-language television show, from several New Jersey communities, as well as making numerous guest media appearances.
In politics Mr. Grabowski has been a candidate both for Congress and for Governor of New Jersey, as well as state coordinator for the Presidential candidacies of both Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon. He served the Federal Government in the Small Business Administration under Presidents Nixon and Ford. Mr. Grabowski has had several audiences with other American presidents, as well as with the late, beloved Pope John Paul II and with Lech Walesa.
As a philanthropist, Mr. Grabowski has organized the Polish Mothers Memorial Hospital Foundation to support in the United States the construction of a major hospital complex in Lodz, Poland. He is a frequent visitor to Poland, the land of his parents.
"A man does what he must -- in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures -- and that is the basis of all human morality" -- from Profiles in Courage, by John F. Kennedy.
From: "2007 Annual Awards Dinner Program" National Polish Center; Washington, DC; May 5, 2007

OBITUARY
Chester Grabowski (July 13, 1925 - April 25, 2012)
Editor-Emeritus - Post Eagle
Always first to fight for the good name of Polish Americans and Poland, coming to the defense of Poland and her people, Chester Grabowski, Editor and Publisher of The Post Eagle newspaper, died on April 25, 2012, just seven months before the Post Eagle's 50th Anniversary.
Chester was born on July 13, 1925 in Harrison N J, to parents who emigrated from Poland.
He earned a B. S. Degree from Seton Hall University; he attended John Marshall Law School and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence at Seton Hall Law School. He also attended Alliance College for special folk summer courses.
He was a former member of the Matusz Polish Folk Dance Group and a member of various singing societies.
Chester was also a member of the Kosciuszko Foundation, Association of the Sons of Poland, Polish National Alliance, Polish University club of New Jersey, Polish National Union, and founder of The Polonians Inc. to name a few.
Chester was fluent in Polish, and acted as an interpreter in the New Jersey courts.
Due to the lack of representation and recognition of the Polish people in the mass media, Chet Grabowski decided to dedicate his life to this cause. Taking a brave stand, Mr. Grabowski in 1963, launched his dream, THE POST EAGLE, a Polish American weekly newspaper. Through this paper he fought for Polish recognition in all areas of endeavor very successfully. Chester dedicated the newspaper to the preservation of the Polish heritage and culture in the U. S., the recognition for all Americans of Polish descent, and promoting good citizenship in our country. He improved people-to-people contacts between Poles and Americans when Poland was under Communist control. Facilitating the adoption of Polish babies by American couples, encouraging Americans to study medicine in Poland, and raising money to build the Polish Mothers' Memorial Hospital in Lodz, Poland, all helped to promote goodwill between the American and the Polish people.
Over nearly five decades Grabowski's forceful editorials in THE POST EAGLE admonished Polish Americans for their passivity on the American scene. He spearheaded the campaign to boycott companies which sponsored television programs that broadcast defamatory comments, often in the form of so-called jokes, about Poland and the Poles. He also encouraged Polish Americans to seek elective and appointed governmental offices, to work for the election of pro-Polish candidates, and to influence American public opinion in favor of Poland.
In addition to lecturing at American colleges and universities on United States relations with Poland, Grabowski was the host of a 60 minute television program, THE POLONIAN HOUR, which included interviews with top entertainers and political figures. He also ran his own radio show over WHBI in 1964.
He also appeared on numerous television shows which included the Joe Franklin and Allan Burke Shows, also a Polish talk show in Warsaw, Poland while touring there.
He met with United States Presidents Nixon, Carter, and Reagan, as well as presidential candidates Senator Teddy Kennedy and Senator Barry Goldwater. He particularly cherished photos of his numerous visits with his Holiness Pope John Paul II in Rome. King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, General Wojciech Jaruzelski, Lech Walesa and several other world leaders talked with Grabowski over his long career.
He enjoyed his friendships with Polish entertainers such as Bobby Vinton, Stephanie Powers, Ted Konopka [Ted Knight], Loretta Swit, Liberace, just to name a few.
He was a frequent visitor to Poland, the land of his parents.
In politics, Mr. Grabowski was a candidate both for Congress and for Governor of New Jersey, as well as state coordinator for the Presidential candidates of both Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon.
But no medal, no amount of recognition or kudos, will come close to the love and gratitude he engendered with those who knew him best. Listing his affiliations and distinctions is a dry way of acknowledging his achievements, but a necessary one. However, composing a list of the people he touched in a positive way would fill many volumes and still fall far short of illuminating the nobility of his spirit. Let us say that from time to time we are privileged to meet such a man. Requiescat in pace.
Chester Grabowski is survived by his former wife Jean (Garb) Grabowski, his loving children Chris, Ray, Matt, Val, Alex, his granddaughter Angelique, his nieces and nephews, and his many friends including Johnny 0'Rourke.
Source: This article was originally printed in the Post Eagle, May 2012