Alumni

Peter Danielczuk

POLAND CONFERS "GOLD CROSS" ON ANSONIA MAN...
By Patricia Villers - Register Staff
(New Haven Register 10-14-2000)

After more than a quarter of a century promoting Polish heritage in a variety of venues, Peter J. Danielczuk has been honored by the president of Poland.

Danielczuk, 48, received the Gold Cross of Merit Saturday from Dariusz Jadowski, Polish consul general, at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York City.

Danielczuk, who is president of the Board of Aldermen, said Monday he was one of seven recipients for the tri-state area.

"It was a great honor to receive this award," said Danielczuk, "I feel very strongly about promoting Polish heritage and teaching the younger generation about the traditions."

He traveled to the Polish Consulate in New York City with his parents, Peter and Ruth Danielczuk, and his sister Karen Danielczuk. The ceremony was held Saturday, because Nov 11 is Polish Independence Day.

Also attending was Joseph S. Wardzala of Derby, who nominated Danielczuk for the award in December 1998.

"It was a long process," Wardzala said Monday. He petitioned the consul in New York who in turn forwarded the request to the president of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski.

Wardzala, a native of Poland, received the award five years ago.

"I recommended him for the award because of his Polish promotion on television and the radio," Wardzala said, "And he is a member of all the Polish organizations."

Danielczuk is host of the long-running "Polka Celebration," WICC-AM 600 radio in Bridgeport. Wardzala said in addition to playing music, Danielczuk discusses Polish culture and holiday traditions on the air and promoted October as Polish-American Heritage Month.

Danielczuk also was host of a program about Polish-Americans on Connecticut Public Television. A past national director of the Polish Falcons of America he received its Bronze Legion of Honor.

In 1995, Danielczuk was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Polish-American World Newspaper of New York, Wardzala said.

Danielczuk also belongs to the Polish National Alliance, the Kosciuszko Foundation, Polish American Congress and the Valley’s Kosciuszko Historical Society.