Chester D. Opalsky, Ph.D., D. Sc. August 30, 1926 – January 15, 2015age 88Arlington, VAChester Chet D. Opalsky, age 88 of Crystal Towers in Arlington Virginia, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2015. He was a bachelor and the final survivor of his siblings. He was predeceased by his two brothers: Vincent Opalsky and Stephen Pal Opalsky; and by his five sisters: Laura Gorka, Walterine Terry Palesky, Helen Breskovic, Stella Helenson, and Chesteria Jay Sapet; and his niece, Donna Gorka Baldwin. He is survived and will be missed by his 8 nieces, 3 nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews. Dr. Opalsky was born in Braddock, Pennsylvania on August 30, 1926 to Antoinette and Stanislaus Opalsky, who had emigrated from Poland. He was a graduate of Scott High School in North Braddock. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Asiatic Pacific during World War II. Upon his honorable discharge, he entered the University of Pittsburgh under the G.I. Bill. He graduated in biochemistry and entered the US Army a second time as a first lieutenant. During his tours of duty he served in Germany and was assigned to Ft. Dietrich in Frederick, Maryland; to the Veterans Hospital in Brooklyn NY; and to several posts in the Washington, D.C. area. He retired as a Captain from active duty in 1968 after which he served in the U. S. Army Reserves. Captain Opalsky was active in veterans groups as a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW Post # 127 District of Columbia where he served as Post Commander and National Aide-de-Camp. He was also a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans DAV Post 10, Arlington-Fairfax, Virginia where he also served as Post Commander. Dr. Opalsky was a recipient of the Republican Senatorial Medal of Freedom.Dr. Oplasky earned a Master of Science in Education at American University and an MMD and a PhD from the University of Florida. He studied medicine at Xochicalco, Centro De Estudios Universitarios in Ensada, B. C., Mexico. He practiced as a doctor of homeopathic medicine and was an ordained minister. He was an active member of a number of professional societies including the American Society of Microbiologists. He worked for the Marriott Corporation and for a time worked with fellow veterans in the Veterans Cab Company. He was an avid motorcyclist and marathon runner. He was a long-time resident of Crystal Towers in Arlington, Virginia. Captain Opalsky will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on August 26, 2015 at an 11:00 ceremony. Those who wish to pay their respects are asked to assemble at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, Arlington, VA at 10am. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Cunningham-Turch Funeral Home in Old Towne Alexandria. Memory tribute may be sent to the family at https://www.cunninghamfuneralhome.net/obituary
8/26/2015
10:00am -
I am so sorry for your loss, Chet was a dear neighbor of mine when I lived in Crystal City. We exchanged oranges at Christmas – honey bells, I think. He was a dear man of God and always so encouraging. I wish I had seen him this Christmas but didn’t know he was ill and we missed this one. I will miss him. He was truly of the greatest generation. What a well-spent life.
So many years have passed since I first met Chet, almost 60 to be exact. Today as I was attending my Granddaughter’ soccer game in Poolesville, Md. and got lost on my way home to Ellicott City, I passed “Whites Ferry” on the Potomac. Many memories came back of a cabin along the Potomac that my family owned and a visit there with Chet to go fishing on a cold rainy day. Much like the weather today. And thinking back about Chet, I thought of my time as a teenager who lived in a home he was renting with friends that was next to my parents. He was truly a nice guy, took me fishing, I mowed his yard, and remember my fascination with his Jeep. He let me drive it one time, I was just beginning to drive, and could not handle the shift. Stalled it on every hill I tried to go up. He was patient, and even though I never got to drive his Jeep again, it began my love affair with that vehicle. I never forgot that moment, and when I finally purchased my first Jeep Wrangler in 2001, I thought of Chet and how much that enjoyment I got out of that first Jeep ride. He had a 3-speed bike also, and one day when mowing his yard, I decided to take a little ride on that bike. Not knowing how to operate a 3-speed, I promptly messed up the gears. I remember pushing that bike all the way to Frederick, about 5 miles, to try to find someone to fix it. Whether I did or not, I do not recall, but Chet never said a word to me about it. I tried to fix him up with one of my cousins, didn’t work, and I guess she was the beginning of his bachelor days. I can’t count how many times I have thought of him over the years and how he was actually a big brother to me. I’m so sorry that I am too late to tell him directly how I felt about our short time as friends, how I lost touch with him, but how much influence he had on me in that brief time. Interesting how something as simple as going past “Whites Ferry” today brought back a flood of good and fond memories. I will miss you Chet, so interesting too that your name “Chester D. Opalsky” has remained in my thoughts all these years. You were a great guy, and in your passing, your memory will last with me for a lifetime. Thank you “My Friend” for those wonderful memories. Bill Andrews, tsumainst@aol.com.