OBITUARY: Sir Harry Polche, 82, Knight of St. Gregory the Great (02/11/01)

OBITUARY: Sir Harry Polche, 82, Knight of St. Gregory the Great

by Mary E. Pressey

NEW YORK - A dedicated community leader and stalwart citizen, Sir Harry Polche, Knight of St. Gregory the Great, died on December 18, 2000, at the age of 82. To most of his friends and colleagues it was a loss felt deeply as Harry Polche was a man of deep loyalty and assistance toward his fellow men.

Mr. Polche was born in New York City to immigrant parents from Ukraine and almost from his toddler days acquired a love for the St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, where he was baptized, received his first communion, married Rosalie Chuma, and devoted, at every opportunity, precious hours to the parish's activities and responsibilities.

He was perhaps best known in the parish for his decades of "setting up" of the communion breakfasts in the church and later the annual Lenten communion luncheons for the Catholic War Veterans. Additionally, he served on many committees, including the school and new church committees, the committee that organized the first Church festival on Seventh Street in 1976 and the committee instrumental in renaming Hall Place as Shevchenko Place - all of major significance to the Ukrainian community.

Mr. Polche was a graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School and City College, where he was elected to the international honor society Phi Theta Kappa. He attended Ukrainian classes on weekends to gain knowledge of his parents' language and cultural background. He participated in the Ukrainian Youth Chorus, the renowned Avramenko Dance Group, the production of "Echoes of Ukraine" sponsored by the Ukrainian Youth League of North America at Carnegie Hall (in which he acted as bishop) and many other activities available to Ukrainian youth.

Following his college education, he opted for police training and graduated from the Police Academy. In 1943 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Military Police Platoon with the 65th Infantry Division under Gen. Patton's 3rd Army in the European Theater of Operations. Stationed in Germany he came to the aid of Ukrainian refugees who were housed in Ingolstadt at the war's end.

Upon his honorable discharge from the army, Mr. Polche returned to New York to rejoin the New York Police Department, which he served for 38 years, retiring with the rank of lieutenant. In his capacity as a lieutenant, he was able to use his expertise in advising and helping Ukrainians at their parades, processions and festivals, served as an escort to Patriarch Josyf Slipyj during his first visit to the United States and assisted in other dignitaries' visits.

As a veteran, Mr. Polche continued his involvement with veterans' affairs after the war and served as commander of the St. George Ukrainian Post 401 of the Catholic War Veterans on two occasions. He was a past national commander of the Ukrainian American Veterans, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served as president of the Ukrainian American Veterans Coordinating Committee.

Additionally, his community interest encompassed support and memberships in The Ukrainian Museum, Ukrainian Institute of America and a host of other American societies and associations, among them: the Lieutenants Benevolent Association, Superior Officers Council, Pulaski Society and Emerald Society.

On December 29, 1996, in recognition of his faithful and dedicated service to his church, his community and his country, Mr. Polche was installed at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church Knight of St. Gregory the Great conferred upon him by Pope John Paul II, an honor conferred only on persons who are distinguished for personal character, reputation and notable accomplishments.

With a lifetime interest in creative art Mr. Polche indulged in another gratifying venture after his retirement. He enrolled in classes at LaGuardia Community College to study art history, drawing, painting and sculpture, earning an associate of arts degree in 1991.

While there, Mr. Ploche and his wife, Rosalie, formed PHASE II, a club for the older students which meets monthly to socialize and hear speakers on education, the arts, health and other topics. Mr. Polche's art work and sculptures were so impressive that numerous articles were written about him and his works in several local papers. To the delight of his friends and colleagues, his paintings and wood sculptures are on exhibit throughout the college and his works were the first shown at the art in public exhibit at the TWA Terminal at LaGuardia Airport.

| Home Page |