Honoring Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame Inductees

Editor’s note: This article was created with photographic and other reporting by Frank Gerratana.

The Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame, a program of New Britain-based Polish American Foundation of Connecticut, held a gala ceremony honoring is 2019 inductees.

The 2019 inductees include former Democratic Mayor Lucian Pawlak, CCSU President Dr. Zulma Toro, Rabbi Philip Lazowski and Dr. Henry C. Lee.

The Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame has said that its Class of 2019 inductees are, “a diverse group of remarkable individuals who embody the kind of perseverance, scholarship and achievement that have made our world a better place,” adding that they are, “distinguished individuals who have been pioneers, leaders and scholars in education, science, law, and religion.”

The ceremony included performances by Asian Performing Arts, Zev Mamlok and the Eastside Klezmer Quartet, Alisa’s House of Salsa and Mezzo-Soprano Karolina Wojteczko.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (D-CT) was the event’s keynote speaker.

Of Mayor Pawlak, the Hall of Fame said that,

For three decades, Lucian Pawlak has been one of Connecticut’s most respected and beloved community leaders, a tour de force “man of the people” whose dedication to his New Britain community and those who call it home has known no bounds.

“Born of Polish heritage in Belgium in 1947, Pawlak came to New Britain in 1956,” the Hall of Fame says, adding, “and distinguished himself as a star athlete at New Britain High School.”

Pawlak was Mayor from 1995 to 2003. During his service, the Hall of Fame says, his,

passionate leadership was vital to the revitalization of the city’s “Little Poland” corridor; the battle to fund a new city water treatment plant; and a successful city-wide effort to eliminate blight and bring new life to troubled neighborhoods.

Pawlak has remained active in the New Britain community organizations and the Dozynki and Little Poland Festivals. He presently serves as New Britain’s Democratic Registrar of Voters.

Dr. Toro, is Central Connecticut State University President, and the Hall of Fame pointed out that she is, “the first female and first Hispanic to hold the position in CCSU’s history.”

The Hall of Fame says that,

With a reputation as an extraordinary leader dedicated to making higher education more diverse and inclusive, Dr. Toro’s life has been one of overcoming obstacles and adversity to achieve excellence. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Toro chose an extraordinary educational path – she graduated from the University of Puerto in 1982 with a degree in industrial engineering, a traditionally male-dominated field.

Toro went on to earning a Master’s Degree and then a Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She was the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost of the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, among other leadership posts, before becoming CCSU President.

The Hall of Fame pointed out that Dr. Toro is a noted author, “about the national imperative of preparing women for careers in engineering and STEM, and she has spoken passionately about the challenges and opportunities for women of color in realizing their full potential.”

Rabbi Lazowski, is the Chaplin of the Connecticut State Senate. The Hall of Fame said that his remarkable journey, “from Holocaust survivor to spiritual leader has inspired countless congregants, families and communities for decades.” The Hall of Fame added that, after the Nazis invaded his hometown in 1941, “he survived in desperation, being saved by a stranger who claimed him as her son, narrowly escaping execution by being tossed by his mother from a second story window and living in the woods for two years.”

“In 1947 Lazowski made his way to America to pursue a life dedicated to faith and to ensuring the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten,” the Hall of Fame says.

The Hall of Fame said that Dr. Lee, “has fundamentally changed the way modern-day criminal investigations are conducted. Born in China the 11th of 13 children in 1938 and raised in Taiwan, Dr. Lee, who holds master’s and Ph.D. degrees in biochemistry from New York University, has worked with law enforcement to help solve more than 8,000 cases.”

The Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame says that its core principle,

is that, as a nation of immigrants, the heritage of all immigrant and ethnic communities is part of our common American identity and culture. We should celebrate it as our common, yet diverse, American heritage. In this, our aim is to change the way Americans think of themselves.

The 2019 Hall of Fame Induction Gala was on Thursday, September 26th at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.