Eugene Kusielewicz: Scholar and Teacher

City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works

Publications and Research York College

1997

John A. Drobnicki CUNY York College

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This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] e m ’ Eugene Kusielewicz: W V W) ^ Scholar and Teacher 08 m fli BY JOHN A. DROBNICKl I ^ Eugene Kusielewicz, a leading w spokesman on Polish and Polish Ameri loiodi can affairs and former Associate Pro •H^ i I* - fessor of History at St. John’s Univer ■M t lf i sity, passed away on December 10,1996 after suffering a stroke athis upstate New York home. He was 66. S'a Eugene Francis Vincent Kusielewicz S’® was bom in Brooklyn, New York, on October 12, 1930. After receiving his d t i B .A. from St. John’s University, he went M S 08 on to earn an M.A. and Ph.D. from t> Fordham University, where he studied fH •o under eminent historian Oskar Halecki, ’ <0 V 0) •M under whose guidance he wrote his doc •V* •PN •u •o toral dissertation on “The Teschen Ques V tion at the Paris Peace Conference” in •pH Si 1963. o o Kusielewicz began his teaching ca (0 o8 reer in 1953 at P.S. 126 in New York d City, and quickly moved on to St. ta -M (0 George’s Academy, where he was a social studies teacher and Chairman of a 0> s the department. He joined the faculty of PQ (Ch his alma rnater, St. John’s, in 1955, and PH ^ taught there until his retirement. Kusielewicz was active in many Pol Sfl .15 "S ish American organizations, particularly « » the Kosciuszko Foundation, where he progressed from Assistant to the Presi dent (I 963-65) to Vice President {1965- I 70), and then succeeded Stephen Mizwa as President (1970-79). During his ten ure, he also served as editor of the Foundation’s Monthly Newsletter, for which he wrote a regular column. Kusielewicz also served as President of the Polish American Historical Associa tion (1964-66) and editor of its journal, Polish American Studies (1964-68); a member of the Advisory Boards of the Jozef Pilsudski Institute for Research Into the Modem History of Poland, the Polish Museum of America, the Wanda SEE “KUSIELEWICZ,” PAGE 8 8 POLISH AMERICAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 1997 Kusiefewia: American Polonia has. lost a Great Champion CONTINUED FROM COVER ture; the''Distinguished Service III, Sobicski and the Battle of Vienna, audiences at scholarly conferences in dents, whether by explaining the in Rochr Foundation, the Catholic His Award of the American Council of and the portrayal of Ignacc both the U.S. and Poland, at neigh tricacies of a particular historical torical Association, and the Polish Polish Cultural Clubs; and the Citi Paderewski in American poetry. As borhood libraries, and at local com topic or gently prodding someone to Institute or Arts and Sciences in zen of the Year Award of the Polish PAJ readers know, Kusielcwicz had munity meetings, and was frequently complete thcirassigninenl. Professor America. Long .active in American World. He was inducted a special interest in the Holocaust and sought out by the media for com K. served as advisor for many Grecnpoint’s Smolensk! Democratic into the Knights ofMalta in 1988. fought tirelessly for the recognition ments on events in Poland and East master’s theses and doctoral disser Club, he was appointed a Trustee of Kusielcwicz was a noted author of Polish losses during that tragic ern Europe. During the heated tations over the years, at least one of the Brooklyn Public Library by ity on Wilson and the Polish cause at period. Auschwjtz convent controversy in which was later published as a mono (then) Mayor Ed Koch, and was a the Paris Peace Conference, and con Kusielcwicz al.so was writer and 1989,"he debated Rabbi Avi Weiss graph {General Wcygand and the member of the ofHcial U.S. Delega tributed articles in that area to many chief historical con.sultant for 17 half- on the CNBC program Battle of. the Vistula. 1920 by tion to the installation of Pope John scholarly journals, including the hour films on the Polish American. “McLaughlin," and also spoke on Zdzislaw Musiaiik). Paul II in 1978. Kusiclcwiczwasone Polish Rex’iew and Polish American Experience, produced by Polish Tele that topic on PBS' program “John While Dr. Kusielcwicz will justly of the founders of the Polixh Ameri- Studies. He was the author of/fe/fec- vision in commemoration of the U.S. McLaughlin’s One on One." be remembered for his .scholarly con aw World, and contributed a weekly tions on the Cultural Condition of the Bicentennial. tributions to Polish and Poli.sh Ameri column during its early days. Among Polish American Community (1969), Under his editorship, Twaync While a graduate student in his can historical literature, what I am hi.s many honors were the PAHA's editor of A Tribute to Stephen P. Publishers and the Kosciuszko Foun tory, this writer was fortunate to take mo.st grateful for is the way that he Haima'n Medal for “outstanding con Mizwa (1972), and co-editor of dation issued a Library of Polish some classes with Professor instilled pride in me for my Poli.sh tributions in the field of Polish Polonia Amerykanska (1988) and'- Studies, which brought .several cla.s- Kusielcwicz and to work under him heritage. American Stiidie.s'’: the Distin Polonia Slanow Zjednoczonych sic historical titles back into print and as a graduate a.ssistant. Aside from <• ❖ ❖ guished Service Medal of the Polish Ameryki 1910-19IS (m O ). Among made others available in English. An his enidition and marvelous .scn.sc of Kusielcwicz is survivi)d by his Mini.siry of Higher Education; the his many publications arc articles on active guest lecturer, Kusielcwicz or humor, what I will remember most wife Krystyna, and his children, Annual Award of the Polish Section such varied topics as the image of ganized symposia and presented pa about Eugene Kusielcwicz is how he Janina and Christopher. American of the Socicic Europeenne dc Cul Poles in American media, King John pers throughout his career;- before always had time to devote to his .stu Polonia has lost a great champion.