CHESTER J. DOMPKOWSKI

CHESTER J. DOMPKOWSKI ~ long-time resident of Hamburg, died on May 31, 2020 at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Community Living Center in Batavia, New York. He was 84. He was born in Lackawanna, graduated as a Classics major from Canisius College in 1958, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army because of his successful participation in the Reserved Officer Training Program. After marrying his childhood sweetheart, Judith Procakiewicz, Lt. Dompkowski was assigned to the Signal Corps and stationed at Ft. Belvoir, VA. In 2017, he proudly told his grandson, Thomas Dompkowski, that during his military assignment from 1958 to 1961 he was a courier responsible for transporting classified materials from Ft. Belvoir to the White House. Lt. Dompkowski’s military career was cut short by disability, and he left the Army in 1961.

Mr. Dompkowski returned to Western New York and was employed in management with JC Penney and Joanne Fabrics and later worked in insurance sales. He ended his work career as a mathematics teacher at Hopevale School. He took great pride in assisting troubled young women at Hopevale. Though he greatly enjoyed living in Hamburg where he raised his family, he became a resident at the VA facility in Batavia, where he lived from 2009 until his death.

“Grandpa Chet” was very devoted to his grandchildren. His family fondly remembered how some of his happiest days were taking his grandsons Nick and Blake Smith to the barber shop when they lived in Hamburg as young boys. His family laughed heartily at the stories of his golfing with his brothers-in-law Joe Procakiewicz and Ken Kovach at the “lush, plush” Eden Valley Country Club. It was heartwarming to hear how he was well liked by the patients and staff at the Batavia VA Living Center, and how much they will miss him. The staff spoke of how he took an interest in the lives of others, how friendly he was, and how he gave encouragement to everyone. He happily shared his favorite foods of pizza, chicken wings and cheesecake with the patients and staff at the facility, and his family will treat the staff and residents to them in his honor. 

He is predeceased by his sister, Dolores Blattenberger, and survived by his sister, Eileen Jurek, four children, Joseph Dompkowski (Juliana) of Farmingdale, NY, James Oaksun of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Jean Marcucci of Woodbury, NJ, and Mary Archer (Mark), of Marlton, NJ, and eight grandchildren, Nicholas and Blake Smith, Gabrielle Marcucci, Sarah Dompkowski, Veronica and Iris Archer, and Thomas and Andrew Dompkowski. Dad was especially proud of his great grandchildren Ian and Ava.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Epidemic, Mr. Dompkowski’s funeral mass and interment with military honors will he held at a future date and memorials in his memory can be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. 

Please share your words of comfort with Chet’s family at www.tomaszewskifh.com

THE FAMILY OF CHESTER J. DOMPKOWSKI IS BEING CARED FOR BY THE MICHAEL S. TOMASZEWSKI FUNERAL & CREMATION CHAPEL, LLC 4120 WEST MAIN STREET ROAD BATAVIA, NEW YORK 14020 – (585)343-7500