Jan Zaprawa-Ostromecki
Analytical engineer, Polish community leader
Born Jan. 30, 1915, Ronsko, Poland; came to U.S., 1952; son of Jan and Maria (Furgal); married Kazimiera (Guziewicz); children: Christopher, Halina.
Education: Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Warsaw Academy of Political Science (Poland), 1939; Master of Laws (LL.M.), 1946, diploma (in psychology), Institute of Experimental Psychology, 1947, Oxford University (United Kingdom); Ph.D., Polish University Abroad, London (United Kingdom), 1972.
Career: chief, Organizing Department, Polish Home Army - Armia Krajowa (A.K.), 1941, commandant, Raclawice (underground organization), 1941-42, Lublin Province, Lublin Headquarters (Poland); member, Polish National Fundation, 1950, 4th Polish National Council, 1951-53, London; co-organizer, Polish National Council in New Jersey and New York, 1952; secretary, Polish National Council in U.S., New York chapter, 1952-53; chairman, Institute of Polish Culture, Seton Hall University, South Orange (NJ), 1965 -; president, Polish National Fund, New York City, 1978-91; co-organizer, Polish National Council, U.S. chapter, 1983-91; representative, Polish Government in Exile, New York State, 1989-90.
Author: Quebec's Position in the Canadian Constitution and the Separatist Tendencies, 1972; numerous essays, bulletins, memorandums and patriotic resolutions (some included in U.S. Congressional Records).
Member of, i.a.: co-organizer, Polish Veterans of World War II - Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantow (S.P.K.) (secretary, Supreme Council, 1951-52); Polish Lawyers Association in United Kingdom, London, 1947; Polish Political Ex-Prisoners Association, 1947, Polish Combatants Association, 1948. vice president, supreme council member, Polish Home Army - Armia Krajowa (A.K.), 1951, London; British Psychological Society, 1951; president, Polish University Club of New Jersey, 1963-64; vice president, New Jersey Division, 1963-67, director, New York City Division, 1968-77, Polish American Congress (P.A.C.); honorary member, Medicus - Polish American Medical Society; Pilsudski Institute of America; Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (P.I.A.S.A.); Polish Home Army Veterans Association in America; societies of former prisoners of Lublin Castle and "Pod Zegarem", Lublin.
Honors: Cross of Valor, 1942, Silver Cross of Merit with Swords, 1944, Polish Home Army; War Medal 1939-45, British War Office, 1948; Army Medal, Polish Government in Exile, London, 1949; Cross of Polish Home Army, Polish Home Army Association, London, 1970; Outstanding Citizen of New Jersey plaque, Polish University Club of New Jersey, 1972; Knight's Cross - Polonia Restituta, 1973, Officer's Cross - Polonia Restituta, 1975, Commander's Cross - Polonia Restituta, 1980, Polish Government in Exile; Tenente Colonnello Ruolo d'0nore, Legione Garibaldina, Rome (Italy); Gold Medal of Polish Millennium, Medicus - Polish American Medical Society, 1988; Gold Medal, Polish National Fund, 1988.
Served with: Polish Army, September '39 Campaign, 2nd Iieutenant; Polish Home Army - Armia Krajowa (A.K.), Polish Military Organization - Raclawice, Iieutenant, 1939-42; prisoner, Lublin Castle, and concentration death camps in Majdanek, Auschwitz, Dautmergen; escaped and joined Polish Armed Forces in the West, 1945; promoted to captain, 1990.
Affiliation: Republican. Roman Catholic.
Languages: Polish, English, German, French.
Hobbies: opera, music.
Home: 205 Douglas Road, Roselle, NJ 07203.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996.