In Memoriam – Joseph Wieczerzak

Abstract

Dr. Joseph Walter Wieczerzak was born on January 1, 1931, in Newark, New Jersey, and passed away on September 10, 2022, at 91 years old, in Greenwich, Connecticut.Dr. Wieczerzak attended Stuyvesant High school as a science major, graduating in 1946. In 1952, he earned a BA from Brooklyn College. During the Korean War in 1952–1955, Wieczerzak served in the US Army as a translator at the rank of sergeant. Under the GI Bill, Wieczerzak earned his MA and then PhD in European history from New York University. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and was fluent in several languages.Dr. Wieczerzak's distinguished academic career included tenure as a European history professor at Bronx Community College, where he taught for over twenty years. He was also the Editor-in-Chief of The Polish Review, a quarterly journal of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America, for seventeen years. Dr. Wieczerzak was active in the Kosciuszko Foundation, Polish American Historical Association (President, 1970; Miecislaus Haiman Award, 1980), and the Polish National Catholic Church, serving for many years as Dean of Students at the Savonarola Seminary in Scranton, Pennsylvania.In 2008 Dr. Wieczerzak was honored with a City of New York Commendation for inspiring generations of students at Bronx Community College, and for his scholarly achievements. Among others, he authored A Polish Chapter in Civil War America: The Effects of the January Insurrection on American Opinion and Diplomacy (1967) and edited Bishop Francis Hodur: Biographical Essays (1998). Together with Theodore L. Zawistowski, Dr. Wieczerzak worked to create the PNCC History and Archives Commission, which he eventually chaired and served as editor of the scholarly journal, PNCC Studies. He also served on the Bishop Hodur Biography Commission of the Central Diocese PNCC.Outside the world of scholarship, Joseph Wieczerzak loved to sing, including in concerts of the PNCC United Choirs of the New York–New Jersey Seniorate. He was a friend, mentor, and collaborator to many in PAHA, being always willing to share his advice and knowledge with others.He will be greatly missed.