Stanley Nowacki

1909 - 2014

Dr. Stanley Michael Nowacki, 104, passed away on Wed., Oct. 22, at his family's home, "Doe Hill," near Lexington in Rockbridge County, Va., while under Hospice care. Prior to a recent hip fracture and surgery, he had been blessed with good health, and remained strong and active well into his 100's.
Dr. Nowacki lived in Pottstown for 65 years, in Philadelphia for 26 years, and in Bally for eight years. In 2009, he relocated to Virginia to join his daughter, Kathleen Nowacki-Correia, and son-in-law, Ray-Eric Correia, of Rockbridge County, formerly of New York, N.Y., who survive him. He also is survived by numerous cousins in Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Oregon, and Poland.
Born to Polish immigrants in the Nicetown section of Philadelphia on Dec. 20, 1909, he was predeceased by his parents, Alexander Nowacki and Helen Baran Nowacki, and brothers, Joseph, Edward, and Alexander. Ellen (Aniela) Siek Nowacki, his wife for 69 years, passed away in 2006.
An honors graduate of Germantown High School, Philadelphia, he earned academic scholarships to Temple University and Temple University Medical School, graduating in 1935. For 52 years, he practiced general family medicine in Pottstown, specializing in pediatrics. He was Chief of Pediatrics at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, where he also served two years as Medical Staff President. He directed the Pennsylvania State Tuberculosis Clinic for nearly 50 years, receiving a Pennsylvania State plaque for his service. In 1988, he retired at age 79.
During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, suspended his practice, and was Chief of Anesthesia at the 38th Evacuation Hospital, co-founded by Gen. George C. Marshall, and deployed from Fort Bragg, Charlotte, N.C. The unit was made famous by war journalist Ernie Pyle in Time and Life Magazines for the heroic work of its doctors and nurses positioned directly behind the ever-moving frontlines of battle. During his assignment, approximately 50,000 soldiers were treated by the famous 38th, a prototype of the future M.A.S.H. units of the Korean War. His tours of duty from 1942 to 1945 included England, North Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, and Italy, where his work saving blood during the Anzio campaign earned him an Army Bronze Star. He received his honorable discharge with the rank of Major at the War's end, and returned to his private medical practice.
Renowned as a popular general practitioner and pediatrician in Pottstown for over five decades, he maintained his medical office on High Street across from The Hill School with no support staff, and required no appointments made by his patients. They could be seen daily, sitting on the front porch and along his office steps in good weather, indicating that "Doc's" waiting room was filled to capacity, for morning, afternoon, and evening office hours. He made multiple hospital rounds each day, house calls at all hours of the day or night, and was valued for his ability to speak in fluent Polish, Slovak, and German to his patients in Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties. Well into his late 90's, he read books in Polish, German, and Latin.
A charter and founding member of the Pottstown Symphony Orchestra, he was assistant concertmaster, playing first-violin for over 32 years with them. He started lessons at age 9 in 1918 in Philadelphia, performed professionally there during college and medical school, and played well into his late 90's. He also played the piano and cello, and enjoyed composing. An accomplished artist in oils and pen and ink, his works graced the walls of his home and office, as well as local art exhibits in Pottstown in the 1960's.
Scholarship was a hallmark of his life. He was most proud of his daughter, Kathleen, for earning multiple master degrees and her work as a Catholic journalist, writing for a Bishop and Cardinal Archbishop, both natives of his beloved hometown of Philadelphia. And, he was always proud of his son-in-law, Ray-Eric, for his native French language proficiency, and headships of private schools in New York and Virginia.
Dr. Nowacki was a member of the Brookside Country Club, Pottstown, for 60 years, and the Polish National Alliance for most of his life. For over 70 years, he was a parishioner at St. Peter Catholic Church, Pottstown. He was a parishioner at St. Ladislaus Catholic Church, Philadelphia, for 26 years and, since 2009, was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Lexington, Va.
A wake service will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Lexington, Va., on Thurs., Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. Father Joseph A. D'Aurora, pastor, will preside.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at a later date at the family's convenience at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, Schwenksville, Pa. Burial will follow at St. Aloysius Cemetery, Pottstown. Arrangements have been made by Harrison Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lexington, Va.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Campaign for Camilla Hall (the retirement and nursing home of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) and sent to Mission Advancement Office, 1140 King Road, Immaculata, PA 19345-0200.
Dr. Nowacki's family thanks the staff of Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Lexington, Rockbridge Area Hospice, and Father Joseph A. D'Aurora for their kind and sensitive care of him during the last weeks of his life.