SR0859 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0859 LRB095 22474 GRL 52841 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Leszek S. "Les" Kuczynski, who passed away on August 19, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Leszek Kuczynski was a 1965 graduate of Gordon Tech High School, where he served as Sports Editor of the "Ram Page" during his senior year; he earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1969 from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, his Juris Doctor degree in 1972 from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and his Master's in Business Administration degree in January of 1982 from the Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, Leszek Kuczynski showed his leadership skills when elected President of the Chicago Intercollegiate Council; in October of 1985, the late Aloysius A. Mazewski hired Mr. Kuczynski as General Counsel to the Polish National Alliance of the United States; as General Counsel, his position included responsibilities for the PNA-owned AM radio station, the Polish Language Daily newspaper, labor-management negotiations with unions, and the opening of the PNA Legal Aid Office for Polish immigrants; he served the organization for nearly 23 years and had absolute faith in the programs and agenda advanced by President Frank J. Spula, believing them to be models to be honored and followed to assure the future success and growth of the Polish National Alliance; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, Leszek Kuczynski became the National Executive Director of the Polish American Congress and the Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation; as National Executive Director, he was instrumental in organizing lobbying efforts on behalf of Poland for entry into NATO from 1993 to 1998; he led eleven staffers of the United States Senate and House of Representatives on a fact-finding trip to Warsaw in February of 1997 to research the feasibility of NATO enlargement; he participated in creating a claims program in the U.S. on behalf of the Swiss Fund for the Needy Victims of the Holocaust from 1999 to 2001; and, since 1991, coordinated aid efforts in excess of $80 million in medical supplies and equipment to hospitals, orphanages, and rehabilitation centers in Poland; and

WHEREAS, Leszek Kuczynski held many appointments and elective offices concerning world affairs; he was a participant in the German Slave/Forced Labor Compensation Program Plenary Sessions from 1998 to 2000; he was appointed to the International Organization for Migration Steering Committee of Victims Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, serving from 2001 to 2005; he was appointed to the Appeals Panel of the IOM in 2006 to review claims for slave/forced labor filed under the German Forced Labor Compensation Program and Personal Injury Claims; he was a member of the National Advisory Committee of the American Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing and Information Center from 2002 to 2008; in 2002, he was elected President of the Council of World Polonia, which represents Polish organizations established in 38 countries on five continents; he was appointed by the President of the Polish Senate (Parliament) to the Consultative Committee for Relations with Polonia; from 2002 to 2005, he was elected and served as a member of the Mary Seat of Wisdom School Board in Park Ridge; in 2004, he was a founding Board Member of the Polish American Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Leszek Kuczynski was the recipient of national and international recognition as a result of his untiring efforts and dedication to the principles of justice and equality; on November 11, 1997, he was awarded the Officer's Cross - Order of Merit from the Polish Consul in Chicago for his service to Poland; in March of 2001, he was selected Citizen of the Year by the Am-Pol Eagle in Buffalo, New York; in 2003, he received the Civic Award from the Polish American Historical Association; on November 10, 2006, he was presented the Humanitarian Award by the Polish American Congress' Illinois Division; on February 12, 2007, he received the Cross of Officer of the Order for Merits to Lithuania from the President of the Republic of Lithuania, His Excellency and Mrs. Valdas Adamkus; on May 12, 2007, he was presented the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) in the Great Hall of Ellis Island in New York in recognition to his outstanding contributions to the nation; in May of 2008, he was named the World's Greatest Northridge Prep Sports Fan by the Northridge Prep 8th Grade Boys baseball team; and

WHEREAS, Leszek Kuczynski enjoyed reading, gardening, and photography; he was a natural athlete who participated and had an astounding knowledge of all sports; he was an avid White Sox fan his entire life, enjoying the 1959 World Series with his hidden transistor radio while in school; of all the accolades and recognition he rightfully earned and deserved, however, no role was more important or had a greater impact in Mr. Kuczynski's life than the role of father to his only beloved child, Andrew; and

WHEREAS, Leszek Kuczynski was preceded in death by his parents, Lucjan Kuczynski and Maria (Szurminska) Kuczynski; and

WHEREAS, Leszek Kuczynski will be greatly mourned by his adoring bride of 22 years, Alice "Ala" D. (Borzym) Kuczynski; his dearest loving son, Andrew Lucas Kuczynski; his first cousins, Ewa (Tomek) Heyduk and their daughters, Maja and Maggie; his second cousins, Krystyna (Stefan) Cieslak and their children and grandchildren; his beloved cousins, Maryla Bialasiewicz and Lidka and Beata Dobroch; his Godchildren, Anna Bobel, Natalia Borzym, and Alexander Borzym; his friend, Mark J. Bachta; his dearest brother-in-law, Leon (Rosemary) Borzym; his best friend, Christine M. Kruczek, his kind neighbors, Randy and Reggie Reither; his good friends, Christine and Les Wozniak; and his many other relatives in the United States, Canada, and Poland; and

WHEREAS, Leszek Kuczynski will be remembered by all who knew and loved him as a gentle and righteous man whose wisdom, counsel, and guidance was sought by all who met him; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Leszek S. "Les" Kuczynski; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Leszek S. "Les" Kuczynski as an expression of our sympathy.