Chet was the only child of Adam and Katherine to be born in Poland. He was a noted body builder. In the Army, Chet could not only lift a man by the belt with his teeth but also hold a man overhead with one hand. His strength was legendary. Mush and Ron remember him lifting a refrigerator by himself. John witnessed Chet help out with a flat tire but lifting the car instead of using the jack. There is also the story of his visit to a New Jersey bar owned by a famous wrestler, Tony Galento. Chet challenged him to a match and won. Galento fought for the heavyweight championship of the world against all time great heavyweight champion, Joe Louis so this was not an easy fight. For a while, Chet was an amateur prize fighter, but gave that up because his honest nature count not reconcile with the constant “requests” to take a dive. In another incident, a fellow worker for a long time kept calling Chet a Pollack. When asked to stop and the worker not doing so, Chet, being even tempered, let this go on for quite a while, but one day he just had had enough and let him have one on the chin. Later that day the police came by to inform him of the fractured jaw. The police were called but called the transgression understandable. There was no problem.
Before the war, Chet along with his teenage brother, Eddie, worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and helped build the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut. He joined the Army just before World War II started and was joined by Eddie during the war. After the war, Chet worked for the Railway Express. He remained a bachelor throughout his life.
Chet loved birds and often went to Stamford Beach to feed the sea gulls. The residents called him the Birdman of Stamford Beach. Patricia Skura, his niece, always thought of him as the birdman. The birds actually followed him home and made quite a mess. In her late teens, Patty would bike to the beach with her best friend Carrie on a regular basis and sit and listen to Chet while he fed the birds. Later on, as age took over, Chet lived in a room in Strawberry Hill, with not even a TV. At this time, Barbara began checking in on Chet more often at his home. He wound up at New Haven Vets Hospital due to complications with his foot for several years. Patty would visit one week and Jimbo the next and Chet was delighted because now he could play his numbers.
When Ron visited him, he had diabetes and lots of problems with his foot. Ron saw an opportunity as his mother was now widowed and living alone. After a fall from a bus, Helen was finally able to convince Chet to come to Hyattsville, Maryland to live in her house with her. Helen made sure that Chet had three meals a day, showered, shaved, and took care of any health issues. The brother/sister relationship between Helen and Chet was good for both of them. Chet died in Helen’s house in 1990 and was buried in Stamford at St. John’ Cemetery. Patty credits the dinner afterwards with bringing the extended family together. It certainly increased the number of visits between Maryland and Connecticut.
Before the war, Chet along with his teenage brother, Eddie, worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and helped build the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut. He joined the Army just before World War II started and was joined by Eddie during the war. After the war, Chet worked for the Railway Express. He remained a bachelor throughout his life.
Chet loved birds and often went to Stamford Beach to feed the sea gulls. The residents called him the Birdman of Stamford Beach. Patricia Skura, his niece, always thought of him as the birdman. The birds actually followed him home and made quite a mess. In her late teens, Patty would bike to the beach with her best friend Carrie on a regular basis and sit and listen to Chet while he fed the birds. Later on, as age took over, Chet lived in a room in Strawberry Hill, with not even a TV. At this time, Barbara began checking in on Chet more often at his home. He wound up at New Haven Vets Hospital due to complications with his foot for several years. Patty would visit one week and Jimbo the next and Chet was delighted because now he could play his numbers.
When Ron visited him, he had diabetes and lots of problems with his foot. Ron saw an opportunity as his mother was now widowed and living alone. After a fall from a bus, Helen was finally able to convince Chet to come to Hyattsville, Maryland to live in her house with her. Helen made sure that Chet had three meals a day, showered, shaved, and took care of any health issues. The brother/sister relationship between Helen and Chet was good for both of them. Chet died in Helen’s house in 1990 and was buried in Stamford at St. John’ Cemetery. Patty credits the dinner afterwards with bringing the extended family together. It certainly increased the number of visits between Maryland and Connecticut.
No comments:
Post a Comment