Chester E. Poplaski

POLAND – Chester E. Poplaski, 85, of North Main Street, passed away on September 4, 2025 at his home surrounded by his devoted wife, Maryann, his children, and his sister-in-law, Linda.

Chet was born on October 6,1939 in Utica, NY, a son of the late Chester S. and Catharine (Krol) Poplasky. After starting his schooling in a one room schoolhouse on North Gage Road, he graduated from Poland Central School in 1957. Chet continued his education first at Utica College then transferred to Syracuse University, where he graduated in 1962 with a BA in chemical engineering. During his time in college, he spent his weekends home helping his father milk cows and wooing Maryann Levesque, taking her out dancing, until she agreed to marry him on June 9, 1962 at St. John's Church, Newport. They immediately moved to Hartford, CT where he took a job at Pratt and Whitney while also studying metallurgy at nights at the RPI Graduate Center in South Windsor, CT. Four years later, new family in tow, Chet took jobs, first with Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY then with Applied Research in Honeywell, MA. These jobs set the foundation for his passion to open his own manufacturing business and in 1970, Chester established Newcut, Inc. in Newark, NY. Chet's business specialized in producing small precision metal parts using a process called Photochemical Machining (PCM). Chet was a pioneer of PCM and was president of the PCM Institute for a time. Using his mad scientist skills he grew Newcut into a successful business ultimately selling the business and retiring in 2011.

Chet held a lifelong interest in farming and because running his own business wasn't enough, Chet purchased his parents dairy farm in North Utica NY and turned it into a beef cattle operation, becoming a very involved member of the NY and National Beef Cattlemen's Associations. Chet finally retired from farming at 83. Chet loved to travel the world with his wife and after retirement maintained his active lifestyle and involvement in the PCMI and NCBA. He was also the president of the Poland Alumni Association and a member of St. John's Church, Newport.

Survivors besides his wife, Maryann, include four children, Christopher (Tabitha) Poplaski of the Town of Deerfield, Melissa Foppes of North Wilkesboro, NC, Chester (Luella) Poplaski of Katy, TX, and René (Karsten) Becker of Frankfurt, Germany; 11 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren and 1 on the way; two brothers, James (Christine) Poplaski of Yakima, WA and Thomas (Deborah) Poplasky of Canandaigua; and many nieces and nephews. Chester was predeceased by one brother, Francis Poplasky; four sisters, Caroline Francis, Pauline Woznicki, Jane Koscinski, and Mary Ann Lewandrowski; a son-in-law, David Foppes and a great-grandchild, Hunter Underwood.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. John's Church, Newport on Wednesday, September 10th at 12:30 pm with Rev. Marion Pociecha officiating. Interment will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Newport. Calling hours at the Autenrith Funeral Home, 7479 Main Street, Newport are Tuesday, September 9th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

Memorials in Chet's name may be made out to Becky's House in care of St. Peter's Hospital Foundation 310 South Manning Boulevard Albany, NY 12208 (518) 482-4433.