Eugene & Cecilia Reszczynski Scholarship Fund | Est. 2002
This scholarship honors the late Eugene and Cecilia Reszczynski and their passion for helping others. Eugene came from modest beginnings in Milwaukee, gathering coal fallen from passing trains to heat the family home. He enlisted at age 17 and made a 23 year career of the Army, completing a degree with the University of Michigan via correspondence courses. Specializing in telecommunications, including decoding and translation, Eugene was certified in five languages. After the Army, he would put these skills to use in Marion working for GTE.
The couple, who married in 1940 after having known each other for a mere six weeks, lived all over the world – England, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan – following Eugene’s military assignments. Their home was a treasure trove of memorabilia from their travels.
Cecilia came from an Italian family in New Jersey and attended beauty school there before being snuck out the bathroom window by her sisters in order to marry Eugene. She supported him as a housewife and mother during their 57 years together. Eugene passed in 1997 and Cecilia in 2002. Cecilia was a member of St. Mary Parish in Marion.
The Reszczynski Scholarship, created in 2002, is one of the oldest at Marion Community Foundation. It makes awards each year to students who score in the top 50th percentile of the ACT or SAT and have attended a high school in Marion County for two or more years.
