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Born April 5, 1936, he was the son of Walter and Victoria Weglowska Gawel. He spent his childhood in Poland and graduated with an electrical engineering degree from the Technikum Construction and Electrical Engineering School in Jaroslaw, Poland.
Gawel immigrated to Stamford in 1960 and later married Ann Manczuk.
He and his brother Joseph started Gawel Brothers Plumbing and Heating Service in Stamford in 1965. He remained in the plumbing business until his retirement.
He was a parishioner of the Holy Name of Jesus Church, where he was chairman of the grounds, on the building committee and a member of the Holy Name of Jesus Society and Holy Name Athletic Club. He also served multiple terms on the Lay Advisory Council.
He was a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, representing the Polish people to Bishop Egan. He was a member of the board of directors of the Polish American Cultural Society of Stamford and was named Citizen of the Year in 1991.
He and his wife remained co-chairs of the organization’s Polonaise Ball for more than 10 years. He also contributed to the founding of the American Center of Polish Culture in Washington, D.C. in 1988.
A self-taught photographer, Gawel contributed many photographs to the Holy Name of Jesus Church's 75th anniversary memorial book. He and his brother enjoyed many years of boating and fishing as members of the Halloween Yacht Club and Gawel could be found at Stamford’s Terrace Club many Saturday nights.
Snowmobiling was his deepest passion and he traveled further and further north to find the snow.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Diane and Irene, and a brother, Joseph.
He was predeceased by a sister, Helen Kryspin; and two brothers, Chester and Walter Gawel.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at Bosak Funeral Home in Stamford. A Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Thursday, at Holy Name of Jesus Church. Burial will follow at St. John's Cemetery in Darien.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Greenwich Woods Employee Sunshine Fund, 1165 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831.
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