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Zbigniew Stanislaw Kowalski

Broadcaster, Polish community leader

Born Jun. 5, 1916, Vienna, Austria; came to U.S., 1952; son of Stanislaw and Aniela (Stochla); married Elzbieta (Bogdanowicz); child: Barbara.

Education: Officer's Infantry School, Ostrow Mazowiecka (Poland); Extension Michigan University, Flint.

Career: in Los Angeles (CA) - teacher, director, Polish School, 1959-61, editor, Panorama Polonii (monthly), 1970-74, broadcaster, Polish Radio Program, 1974 -.

Member of: secretary, Polish National Treasury, Flint, Los Angeles (CA), 1953-90; director, Polish Theater, Los Angeles, 1960-84; head coach, Youth Soccer Club, Sierra Madre - Arcadia (CA), 1972-74; Polish Veterans of World War II - Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantow (S.P.K.) (president, 1986-89), Los Angeles; ice president, Katyn Memorial Commemorative Plate Committee, Los Angeles - Rappersville (Switzerland); delegate, director, Polish American Congress (P.A.C.) South California Division; director, Friends of John Paul II Foundation, Los Angeles; Polish National Council.

Served with: Polish Army, September '39 Campaign, 68th Infantry Regiment, 2nd lieutenant; Prisoner of War (POW) in Germany, 1939-45; Polish Armed Forces in the West, 1st Armored Division, Italy, 1945-47; Polish Resettlement Corps, welfare officer; promoted to captain, 1990.

Affiliation: Democrat. Roman Catholic.

Languages: Polish, English, German, French.

Hobbies: broadcasting, theater.

Home: 1406 S. Courtis Ave., Alhambra, CA 91803.

From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation,
New York, NY, 1996

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Last Farewell to Zbigniew Kowalski

by Jadwiga Narebska, Los Angeles

On September 5, 2005, after a protracted illness, one of the great activists in Los Angeles Polonia, Zbigniew Kowalski, has died. He was a member of PNA Group 2644. His death has robbed us of one of the pillars of the post-war immigration. For 31 years he conducted the Polish Radio program, putting all his heart into it, conveying to us news from the Homeland and from the local area. Through the radio, he connected us all into one great family outside the Homeland, the family we call Polonia. We thank him for passing on our heritage, our roots and love of the Mother Country.

Another field in which he worked was the Seniors' Polish home, the "Szarotka," which he made into a true center of Polish culture in Los Angeles, which borders the church. After all, God and the Homeland go together. He was a magnificent president who with his authority, tact and knowledge overcame many difficulties and lined us all together in maintaining and developing this important Polish outpost. ... I remember meeting him at the first summer camp that he organized in 1961 for 28 children at Richard's Farm where the peacocks would drop their colorful feathers that the children would pick up and take home as souvenirs. ... Our deep expressions of sympathy to his wife Elzbieta, and Barbara [Basia] his daughter.

From: "Zgoda," November 15, 2005

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