Inspiring Artist Stan Jaworski, Escaped War to Island Home

Zbigniew (Stan) Jaworski, a longtime year-round Vineyard Haven resident and artist, died Feb. 15.

Born in Poland in 1923, Stan grew up traveling the Polish countryside with his family. While his father set up schools in villages, Stan enjoyed rural culture, absorbing their lifestyle, art and music.

Life changed drastically when war struck Poland in 1939. Upon the Soviet invasion of eastern Poland, Stan’s father was arrested, never to be seen again. Stan and his mother and sisters were deported by cattle car to Northern Kazakhstan, where they were left to die. Thanks to the resourcefulness of Stan, then 16, the family survived. Stan managed to escape and join the British Army’s Polish Corps under General Anders in Iraq. He served as a forward artillery observer and later was promoted to second lieutenant. He successfully fought in the Monte Cassino campaign and in other battles throughout Italy.

After the war, he left for England, where he studied textile design. There he met and married the love of his life, Teresa. They emigrated to the United States on the Queen Mary with a baby and $100, settling in New Jersey, and raised a family. Stan stayed active as a leader in the Polish community, teaching, singing in the choir, and organizing cultural events.

Together, Stan and Teresa crisscrossed the continent from South Carolina to Napa Valley, Calif., back to New Jersey, and finally to the Vineyard, declaring it home.

Wherever Stan went, it was "the best place to be." He never met a stranger. Stan was outgoing, well-liked, full of humor and always ready to recount his adventure stories to those who showed interest. His optimistic philosophy, love of tradition and family, cooking, artistic endeavors, science fiction, and his fearless spirit were inspiring.

At 77 years old, he resumed painting. Stan drew inspiration from his life adventures as well as the beauty of the Island, especially the water and sky. His art has been exhibited at the Tree House Gallery: A Father and Daughter Show; From Poland to America. His greeting cards have been distributed throughout Island stores.

Survivors include his sister Teresa Puchowska, of Gdynia, Poland; his wife, Teresa of Vineyard Haven; sons Christopher Jaworski of Bridgewater, N.J. and Andrew Jaworski of Highland Park, N.J.; daughters Anna Dye and Basia Jaworska Silva of Vineyard Haven; grandsons Thomas Dye, Adam Dye, Colin Jaworski and David Jaworski; and granddaughters Briana Jaworski, Juliana Dye and step-grandson Milo Silva.

Stan is best known to those who know him by his saying: "Nie ma nic zlego co by na dobre nie wyszlo." In other words: "There is nothing so bad out of which good can’t come." We know that he is now in the best place that he can be.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 10 at 3 p.m. at the Tisbury Senior Center in Vineyard Haven. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the senior center or Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in his memory.