Chicago Mountaineer Passes Away, His Loved Ones Honor Him by Giving $1 Million to High School Students

Highlanders in America and Poland said goodbye to Stanisław Bachleda (†76), a well-known Chicago businessman, former head of the ZPPA Song and Dance School, president of the ZPPA Tatry club and a great athlete. His loved ones decided to honor his life and commitment with a beautiful gesture – they made a donation of one million dollars to the Catholic Brother Rice High School in Chicago, IL.

Stanisław Bachleda died on March 20 in his hometown of Zakopane. On Monday, March 31, a truly royal, funeral horse procession set off from the Bachleda family home in Kościelisko to the Church of St. Casimir. After the mass, a ceremonial farewell dinner was held at the Bachleda Kasprowy Hotel in Zakopane . All those who knew Stanisław, all those who wanted to celebrate his life, came. There were also guests from the USA, including members of the ZPPA . A sea of ​​condolences poured out under Bachleda’s obituary posted on the Internet from those who could not attend the farewell in person.

Stanisław “Stanley” Bachleda was a well-known member of the famous highland clan . As his family recalled in his obituary, he was a famous cross-country skier, a five-time medalist of the Polish Championships. He was also a member of the highland band from Zakopane, Bartek Obrochta, with whom he traveled around Europe for almost a decade, performing at international folk festivals. In the late 1970s, he emigrated to the United States to earn a living.

” There he began a new chapter in his life, one defined by entrepreneurship, perseverance and determination. At age 30, he founded Standard General Construction, a construction services company that he ran for more than 25 years. Under his leadership, SGC served thousands of clients in the Chicago metropolitan area, ” reads a memoir by his family.

Chicago Polonia knew Stanisław Bachleda not only as a businessman, but also as a Polonia activist. He was the director of the Song and Dance School Complex at the Podhale Association in North America and one of the first members of the “Tatry” Ski Club, which he also led. He took part in cross-country and alpine skiing competitions, and in the summer in track and field. He became the most decorated competitor in the history of this club, winning the title of Sportsman of the Year seven times.

His grandson Oliver (16 years old), who is a representative of Poland in alpine skiing, followed in his sporting footsteps. The deceased also left behind two other grandchildren: Audrey (13 years old) and Spencer (9 years old), his wife Helena and sons Marcin and Szymon, who manages the Bachleda Family Foundation. The family organization decided to honor the late Stanisław Bachleda with a special gesture – it made a donation of one million dollars to Brother Rice High School in Chicago . The relatives also asked the mourners to make a donation in his memory to this particular high school instead of flowers.