Polonaise Society announces Citizen of the Year

Goshen — The Hudson Valley Polonaise Society Stanley Kocot as its citizen of the year for 2007, a distinction awarded to a Polish-American who has given lifelong support and contributions to Polish-American and civic organizations. Kocot was born in 1938, the second son of Stanley and Stella Kocot. His paternal and maternal grandparents migrated from the Ostroleka region of Poland to the Black Dirt area of Orange County called “Big Island.” While working with his parents on their onion farm during the summer, he graduated from Seward High School in Florida. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., and then a master’s degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz, majoring in education. After teaching for a few years in Warwick, he became interested in environmental issues. He went on to receive a master’s in environmental studies from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Kocot has taught grades 4, 5 and 6 in the Warwick Valley School for 34 years. While teaching, he was nominated to the membership of Who’s Who of American Teachers by Dean’s List students, juniors, and seniors of the Warwick Valley School District. Kocot’s love for polka music and dancing brought him to the position of chairman for the Big Island area in the Orange County Onion Harvest Festival Queen selection in 1964. He then became a participant of the festivals in 1983, 1989, 1995 and 1999. During the 1999 festival, his involvement included singing in the festival choir as well as preparation for the Sunday Mass celebration. He was also honored to portray the festival’s Lord of the Manor, whose task is to oversee the progress of the harvest and to later reward his workers with a time for celebration. He has extended his position as Lord of the Manor when he contributed to the beauty of the Black Dirt region by offering 64 acres of his land to the Orange County Land Trust in order to preserve its natural beauty. His hobbies include gardening and reading poetry. Kocot’s volunteer efforts included chairing many activities for St. Joseph’s School in Florida, such as bingo and other fund-raising projects. He currently participates in the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church choir, and he also taught CCD classes for many years. He was a member of the Pine Island Historical Society and holds the certified title of Audubon Naturalist from the National Audubon Society. This position recognizes Kocot’s proficiency in identifies flowers and trees in the Northeast. Kocot has also held the position of treasurer for many years in the Hudson Valley Polonaise Society, of which he is currently a member. He has been an instructor for the Polish language classes provided by the society for the past 14 years. He tells the story of talking to relatives in Poland who could not believe he was not born in Poland because of his proficiency in speaking the language. He feels that being a part of the language classes also gives him the opportunity to learn more about the Polish language and to improve his own ability in speaking Polish. He is often asked to assist as a translator. The General Pulaski Memorial Committee, which originated in the 1930s, was reactivated in the Orange County area approximately 20 years ago. Kocot became its president in 1998. He has been the core of this organization in that he coordinates the Miss Polonia presentation dinner, as well as arranging for banquet reservations, transportation, and participation in the annual Pulaski Day Parade. For 14 years, he held the position of president of the Polish National Alliance, Group 3161 of Florida, which is a nationwide fraternal and mutual benefit organization for Polish-Americans. When asked who may have influenced him during his lifetime, he quickly answered, “My grandmother, Anna Kocot. She taught me to speak Polish. And my mother, who was an avid reader. She taught me to be proud of my heritage ... not only the customs and traditions, but she also taught me to value the spirit and soul of the Polish people.” Kocot also expressed his admiration for Pope John Paul II, whom he said symbolized the strength, compassion and humility his mother instilled in him about the Polish people.