World War II era veteran Edward Smolenski, a longtime New Hyde Park resident, died on Nov. 29 due to a malignant brain tumor. He was 88 years old.
Smolenski served as commander of G&E Linder VFW Post 8031 for the past decade and had been a member of the post for 20 years.
He was a charter member of the New Hyde Park Elks Lodge. Smolenski was also a charter member and past president of the American Polish Business Association. And he was a contributor to the Polish Gift of Life, an organization which brings Polish children in need of special surgery to hospitals in the U.S.
“He was an outgoing, friendly guy, a passionate guy. He gave back to the community,” said U.S. Air Force veteran Mario Obertis, a longtime friend who succeeded Smolenski as commander of VFW Post 8031 last month.
Obertis said Smolenski had been the driving force behind the VFW Post’s college scholarship program, which benefits local high school students.
“It was our honor to be on the podium with Ed,” Mayor Robert Lofaro said of past Veteran’s Day ceremonies. “He was well respected by the village board and community at large.”
Smolenski enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 at age 17, shortly after graduating from Sewanhaka High School.
Fluent in both Polish and Russian, he was enrolled in a year-long course of language studies at Middlebury College in Vermont after he enlisted. He then earned a degree in naval sciences at Tufts University in 1946, and was commissioned as a naval officer and posted to Italy to serve out his enlistment.
Smolenski founded Park Valley Construction Company in New Hyde Park after returning from naval service. He had acquired skills to become a contractor from his father, Michael, who had emigrated to the U.S. from Poland in 1914.
“He had a passionate work ethic,” said his daughter, Elaine Thompsen.
She also described her father as “a very loving and kind person” and a devout Christian. Thompsen said he gave each of his workers a turkey or a ham for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
His grandson, Jonathan Thompsen, said his grandfather often told him the most important things in life were faith, patience and love.
His daughter said her father frequently gave jobs to eastern European immigrants referred to him by labor unions in New York City. She said he also often helped find them housing.
She said he was proud of his Polish heritage and was a passionate American patriot.
“He was very much in love with being an American,” she said.
In accordance with his wishes, she said the hymns “Eternal Father” and “Amazing Grace” were sung during his funeral mass on Dec. 3 at St. Hedwig’s Church in Floral Park, the church where he also was baptized.
Members of VFW Post 8031 conducted a memorial service at the New Hyde Park Funeral Home during his wake the day before the funeral mass. The veterans also fired a three-volley salute at the graveside service in his memory at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury preceding his interment there after the mass at St. Hedwig’s Church.
Along with his daughter Elaine Thompsen and her son, Jonathan, Smolenski is survived by his son, Michael, his grandchildren, Preston Thompsen, John-Paul, Stephanie, Julie and Clifford Howes and his great-granddaughter, Catherine. He was predeceased by his wife, Irene, his son, Edward J. Smolenski, Jr., and his daughter, Mary A. Howes.
