Man of the year 1981

Alfred T Mizgalski was born on November 29, 1931 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and has been a life-long resident and Funeral Director in our community. Alfred graduated from Sts. Cyril and Methodius Grammar School and Boys High School.

After receiving his honorable discharge from the Army in 1951, Alfred attended the McAllister School of Embalming, receiving the McAllister Award for Scholastic Achievement. He opened his own establishment with his late brother Roman in May of 1958. On November 9, 1963, he married the former Clementine Popielarski. They are the proud parents of two sons, Thomas and Matthew. In November of 1964, he acquired Frank Dekarski Funeral Home. A year and half ago, he decided to continue his education and entered the National Congress of Neighborhood Women College Program where he is currently on the Dean's List Alfred will graduate from Empire State College in June of 1982 with an Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts.

Alfred has always been active in religious, fraternal and political groups in the Greenpoint-Williamsburg area. He has been an usher, first in Sts. Cyril and Methodius R. C. Church, then in St. Stanislaus Kostka R. C. Church for the past thirty-three years. He is a member of the Holy Name Society, St. Aloysius Gonzaga Y.M.C.C. and St. Stanislaus Society of St. Stanislaus Kostka R. C. Church. For the past twenty-five years, he has been an officer and member of the John Smolenski Memorial Democratic Club and is a member of the Consolidated Democratic Club and the Polonia Democratic Club of which he is now serving as its Acting Executive Member. He is the founder and currently the Executive Member of the Bedford Regular Democratic Club. He is a past Commander and member of the George Washington Post No.3 P.L.A.V. for the past twenty-five years, and President for the past 15 years of the Teofil Budziejko Society Group 192, Association of Sons of Poland. Also, the entire Mizgalski family are members of the Association of Sons of Poland. He also belongs to a number of groups in the Z.P.N.

In 1967, Alfred began his political association with Fred Richmond who went on to become City Councilman and then Congressman, representing the Green point-Williamsburg area. For the past seven years he has been Special Assistant to the Congressman devoting his efforts mainly to the problems affecting the Greenpoint-Williamsburg area. He is especially proud of helping qualified Polish-American youths in obtaining admission to medical schools, professional schools and military academies, since he feels that Polish people are not truly represented in these institutions, Working together with various Polish organizations in the area, Alfred has been very successful in helping Polish immigrants with problems ranging from citizen ship to housing. He has also been instrumental in obtaining funding for the Polish Slavic Center.

For Alfred T. Mizgalski, the year 1980 was the highlight of his career in politics. In September of that year he was elected Democratic State Committeeman District Leader from Greenpoint-Williamsburg representing the largest Polish-American community in New York City.

A Testimonial honoring Alfred was held on March 1, 1981. This honor was bestowed upon him for being the first Polish-American ever elected District Leader from the Greenpoint-Williamsburg area by the Consolidated Democratic Club. While in the past we had Polish American legislators, the Democratic Organization never let a Polish-American be elected to the position of making party decisions.

Al's goals as an elected official are to preserve the values, traditions, and sense of community of not only the Polish residents of our neighborhood but of people of all nationalities.