Obituary for Jacek B. Myszkowski

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Life Story for Jacek B. Myszkowski

Jacek B. Myszkowski
Life Story

Jacek Boguslaw Myszkowski, 89, of Newington, CT passed away on May 2, 2014. He was born the son of Julian and Janina (Kazimirska) Myszkowski in Waganiec, Poland on August 13, 1924. After two years of home schooling, he entered boarding school and in 1937, Paramilitary School.

At the age of 15, and at the onset of the invasion of Poland by Germany and Russia, Jacek was living at his Uncle’s estate in a portion of Poland annexed by Germany. In an effort to reunite with his parents and to avoid deportation and internment in German forced labor camps, he fled with his sisters, uncle and aunt to Warsaw, Poland with his parents following two weeks later. Jacek’s father was later arrested and sent to Dachau concentration camp, along with other Polish intelligentsia and was later murdered at Mauthausen concentration camp in 1940. A year later his Mother died from cancer.

Orphaned by the age of 16, Jacek worked to keep the surviving members of his family together. He attended school, and joined the Polish Underground Army (AK). In 1943, he matriculated and graduated from the underground Cadet officer School.

In 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising, and now a Cadet Officer, Jacek was a Platoon Commander in the Kilinski Battallion. For his exemplary leadership and bravery leading up to and during the uprising, he received a field commission to Second Lieutenant and was awarded the highest Polish military decoration, the Order of Virtuti Militari, as well as the Cross of Valor (Krzyz Waleczny) for his heroism. Jacek was wounded four times during battle.

Following the defeat of the Warsaw Uprising , a relentless battle lasting two months and three days, the Germans overtook Warsaw. Jacek, along with the other Polish combatants were subsequently marched to POW camps in Germany for the duration of the war. Following liberation by the British forces, Jacek and four other young Polish officers went to Italy to join the Second Corps under British command. In 1946, the Second Corps was reassigned to England and two years later, it was disbanded.

Now living in London and passing a rigorous entrance examination, Jacek received a scholarship and attended the Polish University College affiliated with the University of London. In 1950, he married Maria Magdalena Narbut-Luczynska. Later, he lost his scholarship at the University and in order to support his growing family he left school and went to work at Lyons Food Factory.

In 1955 with his wife and three children, he immigrated to the United States, settled in New Britain, Connecticut and found employment at Fafnir Bearing Company. While working there full time he took advantage of the company’s tuition assistance program and in four years earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at Central Connecticut State College. In 1967 he moved his family from New Britain to Newington where he resided until his passing. He was promoted to Foreman at Fafnir/Textron in 1969, retiring at that position in 1986. In the years following his retirement, he traveled frequently to his beloved Poland, as well as France, Spain, England and throughout the U.S.A. While his health permitted, Jacek was active in the Polish Boy Scouts organization and Polish Veterans Association.

He leaves his five children; daughter, Yolanta Stuliglowa and her husband, Jan of Southampton, PA; son, Julian Myszkowski of Newington, CT; son, Krzysztof Myszkowski and wife, Diane of Colorado Springs, CO; daughter, Teresa Swanson and her husband, Arthur of Manchester, CT; and son, Michael Myszkowski and wife, Joanne of Groton, CT. He also leaves six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.