Stanley Robert Kokoska

Stanley Robert Kokoska, 86, of Willimantic, husband of Carolyn (McKeon) Kokoska, died Thursday, December 21, 2017 at Avon Health Center in Avon, CT. He was born in Meriden, CT, the son of Immigrant parents from Poland.  The youngest son of 12 children, Stan was raised in foster homes in New Haven and West Haven.  He attended West Haven High School, where he met Carolyn, the love of his life.  Stan served in the United States Army in the Korean Conflict, achieving the rank of Second lieutenant and earning the Bronze Star.

After leaving the army Stan earned a Bachelor of Science degree from UConn and a Master of Science in Physics at Renssalaer.  He taught at Windham Regional Technical School through the 1960's and coached football and the rifle team.  He ran for the office of Mayor of Willimantic as a Republican in 1966, winning the election and serving one term (1966-1968).  At the end of the 1960's Stan was made responsible for developing and managing vocational education programs in the Technical School system; he briefly ran an alternative vocational school located in the former Post Office building on Main Street Willimantic, as well as serving as a principal at A.I. Prince Technical School in Hartford. 

During the 1970's Stan began to explore his Polish ethnic roots and became active in the Polish Club in Willimantic, serving as its president and organizing a Polish dance troupe.  During this time Stan also coached Little League baseball teams and YMCA basketball leagues in Windham.  In the 1980's Stan expanded on this interest by organizing youth baseball leagues in Poland after a visit there convinced him that there was a need for youth recreation in that country.  After his retirement in the 1990's Stan continued organizing youth baseball leagues in Poland and Europe. He considered his baseball organizing in Poland to be his most satisfying personal achievement and was given a presidential citation by President George W. Bush Sr. during one of his visits there.  He was a founding member of the Polish National Youth Baseball Foundation which continues his work.

Besides Carolyn, his wife of 61 years he is survived by his sons, Thomas Kokoska of New Haven, Richard Kokoska of Willimantic, and daughter Stephanie Duchesneau of Farmington; three sisters, Helen Wietrak of Rocky Hill, Agnes Baur of Meriden, and Sophie Ostasiewski of Meriden; four grandchildren, Claire Kokoska of Providence, Sophie Kokoska of Manhattan, Kirk Duchesneau of Glastonbury, and Cory Duchesneau (and fiancée Kourtney Spaulding) of Oxford, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews, including his beloved nephew Martin Kokoszka of Chicago. He was predeceased by his youngest son Ethan and four brothers, Edward, Henry, Julian ("Whitey"), and Louis Kokoszka; and three sisters, Frances Polchopek, Marion Crego and Theofila Mendyka.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 5th  at St. Joseph’s Church (99 Jackson St.) in Willimantic, with burial to follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetary on Club Road in North Windham. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Joseph’s Church in lieu of flowers.  For an online memorial guestbook please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.

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