Zdzisław “Chester” Zurawski, 98, passed away on March 11, 2022 at Doylestown Hospital following complications after fracturing his hip. He was born on May 20, 1923 in Stolowicze-Baranowicze, Poland, the only child of Ernestyna and Jozef. His mother died of pneumonia when he was a teenager. He grew up in Pinsk, now part of Belarus, where his father owned several charcuterie shops. At the age of 16 he was taken as forced labor by the NAZIs to work on a farm in Germany. There he acquired his English nickname from British POWs, who began calling him Chester because he always greeted them with the Polish, “Cześć.” As he made his way back to Poland after the war, he learned that his father did not survive in his native town of Pinsk. Other young Poles returning to Warsaw took him in. In Warsaw he met his wife Fryda. They soon married and moved to Szczytno, Poland. 

Chester had been interested in film and photography since boyhood. In Szczytno, he opened the town’s first cinema, cranking films by hand himself. He later started a photography studio in one of the rooms of the family apartment. Unable to live under the Soviets, who were responsible for the deaths of his father, Chester applied for a visa to the U.S. In 1964 at the age of 40 he was finally granted a visa. With his wife, and two children, Jozef “Marek” and Beata, he traveled to the U.S. by ship, a trip he recorded on his Bolex film camera. The family first settled in Irvington, NJ, and later in Edison. 

Chester worked for Lorsten Studios in Union, NJ, first as a photo retoucher, and soon after as the in-house technician, responsible for the running and repair of all photographic equipment. In 1982 he completed course work to become a camera technician and opened his own camera repair business. Over the years he collected rare and fine cameras and his collection included U.S., Japanese, German, and Swiss models. Upon retirement Chester and Fryda moved to Minersville, PA. There Chester spent his time doing renovations on his home and building furniture. 

Chester only drank alcohol on Christmas Day and Easter, and then only sweet liquors, Gran Marnier being his favorite. His grandchildren looked forward to these holidays because then Chester would open up and begin telling stories about his experiences in World War II. He spent much of his life attempting to replace the home that the war had taken from him and his family.  

He is survived by his son Jozef “Marek” and his wife Elizabeth of Sarosota, FL; his daughter Beata Levin of Rome, Italy; his grandson Paul of Queens, NY; and his granddaughter Magdalena of Athens, GA. 

 

            Family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, March 19th, 2022 at 12:00PM (NOON) to 12:30PM at Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine, 654 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA  18901 in the Chapel.  The Chapel is located on the cemetery grounds.  Travel through the cemetery gates to the end of the road and the chapel is on your left.  Chester’s Mass of Christian Burial is at 12:30PM.  Interment will immediately follow the Mass.   Arrangements by Donahue Funeral Home, 215-348-9421.