Casimir J. "Casey" Pajakowski

Jan 24, 1910 -Jun 11, 1990

SOUTH BEND - Casimir J. "Casey" Pajakowski, one of the best-known government and political figures in St Joseph County, died Monday after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 80 years old. Pajakowski died at 1:21 p.m. Monday in St. Joseph's Medical Center, where he had been admitted June 3.

His death leaves a void in the St. Joseph County Democratic Party that he served, first as a worker and later as chairman, for most of his adult life. If there was a Mr. Democrat it was Casey Pajakowski, said Kenneth Fedder, a South Bend attorney. He became party chairman upon Pajakowski's retirement from that role in 1986. "A lot of things I've tried to do even today are founded on ideas we talked about, Fedder said.

"The closest friend in politics that I ever had was Casey." Tribune columnist and editorial writer Jack Colwell said Pajakowski loved a good political contest whether it was working for John F. Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention in 1960 in Los Angeles, as he did, or helping a precinct committeeman to get elected on the West Side.

The fact Casey had a myriad of friends, including many Republicans and also Democrats who were on the other side of primary election battle shows that he won admiration as he won elections, Colwell said. "He loved life, he loved politics and he loved his family most of all", said Shirley Gidley, 3rd District Democratic Party chairman. "Casey's word was gold. You could take it to Fort Knox", she said. Casey never lied to you."

A lifelong Democrat, Pajakowski was born Jan. 24, 1910, in South Bend. He attended St. Adalbert's school, Central High School and the South Bend College of Commerce.

In 1930, he became a partner, with his father and brother, in Pajakowski and Sons grocery, at 2110 Linden Ave. On Oct. 30, 1933, in South Bend, he married the former Helen C. Linetty, who died Aug. 10, 1987. Polite and soft spoken, Pajakowski was a long-time member of the West Side Democratic and Civic Club.

Pajakowski got his first job in local government, an appointment as deputy city clerk, in 1942 and held the post through 1944. He was clerk of the city's Board of Public Works and Safety from 1944 to 1948, and served as superintendent of the city Water Works from 1949 to 1951. He became a clerk in the St. Joseph County auditors office in 1952, and won his first elected post, St. Joseph County clerk, in 1954.

Pajakowski held the county clerk post until 1962, when he was nominated by President Kennedy to become U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Indiana. He was reappointed marshal under President Johnson in 1965. Although he flirted with the notion of running for St. Joseph County sheriff later that year, Pajakowski elected to remain in his post as marshal, continuing until 1969, when President Nixon nominated James Traeger to the position.

In 1970, Pajakowski became assistant chief deputy under former Sheriff Dean Bolerjack. He retired from that post in 1978. Pajakowski filled what became his most important political role on May 6, 1978, when he was selected to be chairman of the St. Joseph County Democratic Party. He retired in 1986 as county chairman, ending the formal phase of a political career that had begun 50 years earlier when he became a precinct committeeman. Even after that Pajakowski continued to serve his party until his death as vice chairman of the 3rd Congressional District Democratic Committee. "I started from the bottom, not the top", Pajakowski told a reporter, adding his belief that office holders who get into trouble usually are those 'Who believe they owe nothing to the party or even to the public.

He also was an avid sports fan. Watching a Chicago White Sox win at Comiskey Park was almost as much fun for Pajakowski as watching the vote totals climb for St. Joseph County Democratic candidates on election night. He also became a regular at South Bend White Sox games.

His greatest political thrill, Pajakowski once said, was riding on a train with President Harry Truman during Truman's famed whistle-stop campaign in 1948. "Truman told us he was going to win, Pajakowski said in a 1986 interview. We really didn't believe it but he told us to keep pitchin' and he did win." Truman's victory taught Pajakowski never to give up. It was a lesson he often preached in later political campaigns.

It was also a lesson he lived by personally, bouncing back after coronary problems in 1986, and accepting the news stoically when he was told months ago of his cancer.

Survivors include his daughter, Marilyn Rzeszewski, of South-Bend, the present St. Joseph County clerk; three granddaughters; two great-grandsons; five sisters, Helen Kush, Alice Pajakowskl, Clementine Suth and Eleanor Jackowiak, all of South Bend, and Esther Meers, of Anaheim, Calif. A daughter, Christine Barnes, died Aug. 16, 1979. Pajakowskl was a third degree member of Santa Marla, Council 553, Knights of Columbus; and a member of the Polish Businessmen's Association; West Side Democratic Club; St. Joseph Young Mens Society; Chapter 39, Disabled American Veterans; the Breezers Club; and Achievement Forum.

From the SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, June 12, 1990, page 13

[Information provided by Find a Grave contributor Paul #48889809]

Source: FindAGrave.com

04/19/2025 EJS