Mr. Marion V. Winters
Born of Polish Immigrant parents in Indiana, Winters early education included Polish Catholic grade school and Alliance Academy. He earned his first university degree at Northwestern University and after retirement he and his wife Jo Louise obtained Masters Degrees in Slavic Languages & Literature at the University of Illinois – Chicago. His life-long career in executive positions with the Social Security Administration was interrupted by 3-1/2 years of duty in the U.S. Air Corps during WWII where combat services earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and he left the Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major.
Throughout his working career and into retirement, Marion Winters played creative leadership roles in society, especially in Polish communities at local and national levels. The following highlight a few of the many meaningful activities he has engaged in: President, Polish American Congress – Arizona; Co-founder & First V.P. Norwid Society, Univ. of Illinois–Chicago (UIC); Coordinator & MC, first Norwid Intl. Conference (1983) at UIC; Co-Organizer & MC “Concert of Polish Music” at Chicago Cultural Ctr., funded by Natl. Endowment for Humanities (NEH), 1983; as President of Polish Arts Club, Chicago, initiated/directed Exhibition of “Chicago’s Polish Churches” with funding from Illinois Arts Council, 1979-80; arranged public affairs, e.g., receptions in Chicago for tenor Wieslaw Ochman, composer Witold Lutoslawski, and poetess Ludmila Marjanska; Co-Founder & first President, Kosciuszko Foundation, Chicago Chapter; and Midwest Regional Coordinator, Polish American Ethnic Committee, NEH funding, organizing programs in public libraries “Not For Poles Only”.
During his many years of service with the national American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC) Winters has served in various positions including president. He was a member of the first American cultural organization to visit Poland after the fall of Communism to cement cultural relationship with government and Catholic hierarchy.
In 1993-94, Mr. Winters raised $50,000 in monies and equipment to establish the first community computer center in Eastern Europe at Siedlce, Poland and provided a U.S. computer expert for 3 weeks of training. Mr. Winters was responsible for raising a $500,000 endowment fund and presently, continues to chair a committee that awards one to five $5,000 scholarships for advanced studies annually. He also is serving on another committee awarding annually two $3,000 grants, which he solicits annually from the Louis Skalny Foundation for students pursuing some Polish studies.
Honors bestowed upon Mr. Winters include: the Order of Cavalier’s Cross from President of the Republic of Poland; The Kosciuszko Foundation Gold Medal; Founder’s Award – American Council for Polish Culture; and Amicus Poloniae plaque from the Ambassador of Republic of Poland; and Certificate of Appreciation – Consul General of Republic of Poland, Chicago.
Years ago, Marion and Jo Louise met at a concert where they were performing with their respective Polish choirs, fell in love, married, and last month celebrated their 68th anniversary of married bliss! They have two happily married sons, Jeffrey who earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees at Santa Clara Univ. His daughter, Katy, also graduated from Santa Clara Univ. with a Masters Degree and his younger daughter, Monica graduated from CalPoly Univ. and is presently working toward a nursing degree. The younger son, Brian graduated from Loyola University and his son, Damian earned a Masters Degree from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace.