Joseph S. Dobrowolski

Joseph Stanley Dobrowolski, 98, died peacefully at home on August 24th, some two months shy of his 99th birthday. Born October 30,1923 in New Britain, CT, he was the son of the late Antoni and Mary (Chwalek) Dobrowolski. An attorney in private practice, Joseph practiced law for almost 70 years in New Haven and was still working at the time of his death. He was known for his zealous representation of his clients. Joseph moved from New Britain to New Haven in 1929, where he attended local schools before graduating from Commercial High School in 1941. While in high school, he spent two summers working on oyster boats on Long Island Sound and played sandlot football for the Oakley Tigers. He joined the US Marine Corps in 1942 and spent three years in the Pacific Theater where he was stationed in Samoa. At one point the commanding officer of his platoon was Captain George Shultz, who served as United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan. In 1943 Shultz promoted Joseph to Corporal, making him at age 20 the youngest Corporal and Gun Captain in his platoon. He was later promoted to Sargent and held that rank when he was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1945. Joseph returned to New Haven and resumed his education at Milford Academy under the G.I. Bill. He then attended Northeastern University in Boston and graduated from law school there in 1952. He was admitted to the CT bar in 1953. Joseph is survived by his wife of 69 years, the former Martha Crocker, whom he married April 25, 1953; his son Anthony ( Jamie) of Pittsfield, MA, and his daughter Lauris Khan, of Somers, NY. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Cyrah Khan, Nadia Blair (Aaron) and Alec Khan, and five greatgrandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Donna May Kratt; two brothers; a sister and a niece and nephew. Calling hours will be at Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Ave., in Hamden, CT on Tuesday, August 30th from 4 to 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Stanislaus Church, 9 Eld St., New Haven, CT on Wednesday, August 31 at 11:00 am. Burial will be private and will take place in Brewster, MA at a later date. Due to allergies in some family members, PLEASE OMIT FLOWERS. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph’s name should be made to the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, 4 Hamilton St., New Haven, CT 06511. www. siskbrothers.com