Stanley Joseph Zawacki

T/5 in 3133rd Signal Service Co : 805 (cryptographic technician)

ASN#42000231

Born 1923 in NJ, Died 1982

Other residence(s): West Paterson, NJ; Bergen, NJ; Upper Saddle River, NJ; Valrico, FL

United States Army, European Theatre of Operations

Occupation before the war: student

Source: 3133rd Program, 15 Sep 1944; 3133rd roster from 10th Mountain Division Museum at Fort Drum; photo courtesy Robert Zawacki

Stan Zawacki was born on September 7, 1923 in Paterson, NJ, the second of five children. His parents had both been born in Poland; his father worked as a dyer and later in road construction under the WPA.

Photo of the 3133rd at work; Stan is in the vehicle, upper right; photo courtesy Robert Zawacki

He grew up in Paterson, and graduated from St. Bonaventure High School in 1943 where he played on the baseball team. He enlisted that summer, on July 9, 1943, and was eventually assigned to the 3133 Signal Service Company, serving in Italy with the unit in the spring of 1945. He worked as a cryptographic technician during his final months in the unit, earning the rank of T/5. He was discharged on March 8, 1946 at Fort Dix and returned home to Paterson.

Stan’s brother Walter also served during World War II as a marine in the Pacific Theater.

Stan worked as a butcher in Paterson for a few years while going to masonry school, and then got into construction. He worked his way up to supervisor for the Mack Construction Co. of Rochelle Park, NJ.

On September 18, 1949 he married Stella Prusienski in Paterson; they would become the parents of two sons: Randy Paul and Robert Stanley.

Stan also attended art school; according to his son, “he loved art and always dabbled, but not professionally.” He was a Golden Gloves boxer as a young man, played golf, and designed and built his own home.

As a mason, he was a member of the International Bricklayers Union, and served as President of Local 44. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Holy Name Society at his parish: the Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Stan and Stella retired to Florida in 1981, and Stan died there on December 13, 1982 in Venice. He is buried at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, NJ.